Conundrums, Dichotomies and Scintillations!

Books for High Schoolers (or adults)

2011-12-30T18:44:00.000-06:00

I was cleaning out my parents' attic earlier this week and decided to let go of many books from my high school English classes. If you're interested let me know. These are free or only the cost of shipping (if you're far enough away for that.)

Cliffs Notes:
Moby Dick
Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man
Lord of the Flies
Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited

Novels:
Brave New World

Lord of the Flies
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Moby Dick

A Farewell to Arms
The Great Gatsby
The Catcher in the Rye
The Scarlet Letter
One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest
Tender is the Night
The Old Man and the Sea
Of Mice and Men
My Name is Asher Lev
The Gift of Asher Lev
Anna Karenina
A Man for All Seasons
The Notebook

Showing Hospitality

2011-07-28T15:25:00.001-05:00

I'm a Christian fiction reader. I have a few authors I read as favorites and truly enjoy reading their stories over and over again. The characters become friends and the stories weave in and out in a slightly unreal, but full of life, way.

I'm currently about half way through one of these books. The pastor of the small church is teaching on hospitality. One of the characters has some commitments that keep her from showing hospitality, but she wants to be an obedient follower of Christ and works to do as much as she can.

For some reason today, this particular part of the story arrested my attention. How often do I show hospitality? How often does my group of friends assume everyone coming to an event should bring something? Is it cultural? Financial? Are we trying to make everyone feel a part?

How often do I feel conviction and instead of focusing on the feeling, I actually focus on changing? I know it's not as often as I should.

I enjoy showing hospitality, but I have learned that it makes people uncomfortable. They want to bring a bottle of wine or the dessert or "no big deal, I just threw the salad together."

Is this hospitality?

I looked up some verses in Scripture that talk about the command to show hospitality.
These verses are from I Peter 4.

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

I want to be obedient in this. I want to show hospitality.

Another Parent Story

2011-05-31T09:43:00.000-05:00

We (my teaching partner and I) received an email from a parent late Friday afternoon regarding an incident involving her son. She was simply making us aware. We received another email late Monday evening asking for a conference, but maybe we didn't need to actually conference about it, she thought. We received an email Tuesday morning asking to meet over our lunch time.

Um, wow. We hadn't even had a chance to reply to Friday's email before two others arrived!

All of that not withstanding, we are now having a first time parent/teacher conference when there are only 3 days left in the school year.

There are just some things I don't understand.

Heir Apparent

2011-05-31T09:39:00.000-05:00

About a week and a half ago, I was in Arkansas for my cousin's high school graduation. The Mavericks were playing the Thunder in the playoffs...which is quite humorous in my family since we're from Texas, but all of the extended family is from OkCity. It made for some fun conversations!

Anyway, at one point my dad and I were chatting about Jason Kidd and Dad mentioned his "heir apparent." I wasn't familiar with that terminology and asked Dad to explain. No big deal..."learn something new every day" and all that.

I think I've heard it no less than 5 times since that conversation.

Always funny how little things catch my attention!

End of May update

2011-05-28T09:33:00.000-05:00

What a boring post title!

I haven't blogged in awhile and when I have thought of blogging, it hasn't necessarily been original material, but more to link to someone else's blog. I'm still probably going to do a couple of those, too...

We only have 3 1/2 more days of school to go and I am VERY ready for summer to arrive. On the other hand, this year has been fairly drama free in regards to kiddos behavior and parents' too, for that matter. We haven't had kids talking about sex at lunch or any major fist fights or anything like that. For the most part, parents have been friendly and supportive. I've heard next year won't be the same way, so I'm trying to relish this year while I've got a few days left of it!

In exactly 9 days, I will be departing on a Carribean cruise! It was pretty funny how the decision was made. I'd sent an email to some people asking if anyone was interested. When it came down to it, 5 were possibilities. We were looking at a 4 or 5 night cruise. Out of our options, I emailed out the dates that worked for me. LJ responded with the ones that worked for her. The other girls ended up not being able to go. So LJ and I said, "Ok, which of these dates do we prefer. June 6 sounds good. Great! Now, where are we going? Cozumel and Progresso. Ok!" Haha!

Either way, I'm excited. The last day of school is Friday. I'll pack over the weekend, and we sail Monday afternoon. YES!

Terrific...or Exhausted

2011-05-03T11:35:00.001-05:00

Remember in Charlotte's Web, when the goose was trying to help Charlotte spell?

"T, double E, double R, R, R, double I, double F, double I, double C"

Or something to that affect.

That's how I feel right now...except with 'exhausted' in place of 'terrific'.

"Double E, double X, double AUS, double T, double E, double DDD."

There's not anything overwhelming going on in my life right now. I'm just running on not enough sleep and then dealing with cranky, ready-for-summer, sometimes slightly clueless people...and of course the children, too.

My bedtime tonight = EARLY.

What have I done?

2011-04-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

I borrowed this from Arshunda over at Ride of My Life.

Everything below in bold, I've done. I would like to do many more than I have! Copy this on to your own blog & bold/underline the things you’ve done if you like.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland (Disneyworld, but I'm counting it.)

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child (I WANT to do this!!!)

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run (Haha, this is funny!)
32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (I'm not totally sure where they're from!)

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing (no desire...)

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Camp Fire candy counts, right?)

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (Not yet, but I will!)

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check (On accident!!)

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

2011-04-23T15:26:00.000-05:00

God has been up to an amazing work. Hmm, let me correct that. God is always up to an amazing work. Lately, He has opened my eyes more to what He's doing and I am joyfully walking closer and closer with Him each day. It is a blessing to actually see, understand and be a tiny part of His plan!

Jesus is patiently walking me through some lessons on trust and what it looks like to have faith in Him. Our trip to Haiti back in March was fabulous, without many bumps. I did have a slight heartattack the night before we left. I had made a mistake in adding up the amount of cash we were supposed to take and we were short...but no small amount. I didn't immediately trust. I didn't immediately turn to Christ. My first thought was one of panic. He wasn't surprised. He had known all along I had made that mistake, and He quietly took care of it.

Thank you Jesus! I will choose to trust you next time!

We had a slight ticket glitch at the end of our trip. I didn't even miss a beat. I need Jesus had it all under control. Thank you Lord that you're helping me learn to trust you!

My small group has been studying Ruth lately. While I was in Haiti, God took me back to the end of chapter 2, specifically the verses where Ruth goes out into the barley and wheat fields. She had met Boaz. She found him appealing. She wanted to be married again. God asked her to be patient. And to wait. Two things I don't do as well as I would like.

Another lesson I learned, to be prayerfully patient. I can't just be patient. I can't just pray. God is asking me to do both. I need to be prayerful for my friends' salvation. I need to be patient with them as I'm talking with them and praying for them. I need to be prayerful for my future spouse. I need to be patient with God's plan while I'm praying for my husband.

Earlier this week, MJ and I interviewed for a video our church is making to promote Haiti. Our Missions' Office is starting up a new website about Giving Your Life Away. This video will be on the website and perhaps shown in our church service at some point, too.

Mark and Lacey are in town this weekend. They were able to come to our Broken for You service on Thursday night. Both of them commented how large the church was and how intimate the service felt. Praise God! I had been specifically praying they would feel poured into. Mark, Lacey, MJ and I are all meeting with our missions' pastor tomorrow morning. I am so excited to continue to see God working!

Student Stories

2011-04-18T21:37:00.000-05:00

If you know me outside this blog at all, then you know I do not leave near the school where I teach, for a reason.

I love my children and their parents. I genuinely enjoy interacting with them throughout my day. However, I have no desire to run into them at HEB or the carwash.

About a week ago, I'm at a Tex-Mex restaurant EAST of where I live. I've run into the ladies room and am washing my hands, when a little boy and his slightly older sister come in. I don't pay much attention, until I realize they're trying to look at me covertly and then glancing at each other. I start to wonder if something is wrong with my clothing. I'm wearing a high necked blouse, but maybe something is hanging out that's not supposed to? I start glancing down at my clothing, in the mirror at my face, neck, arms, quick glances, attempting to see what has their attention.

Finally, the little boy exclaims, "You're from our school!"

The lightbulb goes off, and Ms. Ross turns on the smile. "Yes, yes, I am!" I chat with them for just a moment, finding out he's a kindergartner and she's in 2nd grade, feeling slightly awkward as we're in a public restroom and it's just the three of us. We all finish washing our hands, and head back to our parties.

It was a slightly odd occurrence, as I work WEST of where I live.

I tell the story to my girlfriends, we laugh and carry on with our evening.

Flash forward a little over a week...I'm meeting a friend for coffee, and am walking by Crave Cupcakes. I can tell a teenage girl has glanced at me and looked back at her friends, embarrassed. She looks familar, and I'm pretty sure she's a former student, but I can't pull her name, so I don't say anything.

I walk into Starbucks, chat with the friend I'm meeting, get in line to order my drink and sit down to begin catching up. A girl I do not recognize appears at our table. "Um, hi." Awkward, teenage girl smile. "Is your name Ms. Ross?" I give my best, "Welcome to Ms. Ross's class!" smile and admit that I am, while sincerely hoping she was not a former student, because I had no clue who she was, but didn't want to disappoint her if I didn't know her name. On the contrary, her friend was my former student, but was too embarrased to come say hello. However, her friends convinced her, and it made me remember the awkward life of a 14 year old girl, when talking to an adult was mortifying, yet desirable.

I actually enjoyed running into these children, though I still firmly stand by my decision to never live in the area where I teach!

Can I be 4 y.o. again?

2011-04-14T13:20:00.000-05:00

A 4 year old has the pleasure of taking a nap. They don't always appreciate the opportunity, but they get it nonetheless.

I would love to be a 4 year old for today. :)

"I've clicked send. Why hasn't she replied!?"

2011-04-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

I love my job more than most, but we all have our frustrations, right?

It really bothers me when parents of students expect me to drop everything to get back to them. As if I don't have anything else going on, or as though I live to respond to their email or phone call.

Honestly, it's a little dehumanizing. I'm not a human, but a teacher: a product to supply their needs.

I love springtime!

2011-04-03T12:15:00.000-05:00

I would never have thought I would enjoy working outside. I just didn't as a little girl. Grandma loved piddling outside in her garden and her backyard flowers. Mom and Dad always keep a beautiful yard, too. I just never had a desire to learn about all the different types of plants...shade, sun, partial direct light, blah, blah, blah. I just wasn't interested.

Except now, I have my own garden area and I LOVE working out in it.

When I first moved in, I had a jungle. :)

In October 2009:

I dug out buried black plastic pots that long ago had something growing in them, cut down three trees and uprooted dead branches of unrecognizable origin.

It was incredibly satisfying to clear out the jungle!

Doesn't this look SO much better!?

Obviously, things need planted, but oh, my goodness! I can see what I have out there now!

Spring of 2010, I attempted to begin cultivating the garden area.

This is English Ivy. It didn't work very well.

I like the yellow butterfly, though!

So now, we're current. Yesterday, I went to Joshua's Native Plants of Houston and bought several items.

I have zero direct sunlight, so my options are limited. However, I'd really been wanting some color. Greenery works best, though. Joshua helped me find some greenery with some white in the leaf, to help add some light to all the dark greenery!

This is what I brought home! There's a lot of digging to do!

See what I mean? Some white in the leaves...at least it's lighter than dark green!

Already looking better!

Whew! More to go! I think at this point, I'd only planted 11 of the 23 plants...and I was dirty and gross and LOVING the progress!

I brought home some chimes, too! I've ALWAYS wanted some, but for one reason or another they weren't priority. Today, they came home. I put them up immediately so I could enjoy them while I worked outside!

It's coming together!

I got the red cardinals at my family Christmas gift exchange. I still need some flowers for these pots, but I have up the Easter flag! Garden flags are a family tradition, and they make me smile.

Oh, you bet I had the fountain going while I was out there, too. LOVE it! It certainly needed cleaned out, though. Black water = yuck!

I've planted everything I bought on Saturday, but still need some flowers for here and there. I love Spring weekends!

Houston's First Baptist Church

2011-04-01T09:09:00.000-05:00

Kelly's Korner has a Show Us Your Life each Friday. I don't participate each week, but this week is SUYL: Your Church, and I wanted to exclaim about God's blessings!

I am a member of Houston's First Baptist Church. I moved here in July of 2002, fresh out of college and ready to begin my first year of teaching. I was looking for a church home. I had grown up in another First Baptist Church, so that was my starting point. It was as simple as that.

God clearly opened doors for me to make friends and form a second family. Being single and living in a huge city can be overwhelming. What do you do when you need a ride to the airport? Have a flat tire? Need a sounding board? Well, I could go to my church family.

Me, Heather, Jayme and Julie at a Paradigm Retreat!

I am a member of an evening Sunday School class and absolutely love it! Sunday is truly a day of Sabbath, a day of rest, and I spend time resting! Church is at 5:30pm and Sunday Bible Study is at 6:45. It's great!

This is Paradigm a year or so ago, just before our Girls Serve Guys event. We took them to an Astros game and then grilled out steaks and had twice baked potatoes. Yumm!

The girls in the kitchen, just before Easter lunch! I love these women!

Houston's FBC is extremely missional minded. People from our church go on approximately 40 trips each year to everywhere from Boston to Kenya to Costa Rica to Haiti to right here in Houston.

Me, Melody, Mark at Houston Project

Dan and me at 2010 Houston Project.

We strive to truly live out Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This is such a blessing!

Our March 2011 Haiti team in Jeremie, Haiti. =)

Rebecca and Naomi..two little girls in a small village outside Jeremie, Haiti.

Our team working on the roof of a church building.

The schools there do not have textbooks or any other supplies. They have a chalk board...and that's it! We were a part of helping them get a map for their wall!

I LOVE my church and would love for anyone visiting this blog today to come visit! Whether you're new to the area or simply looking for a place to belong with other believers, come and visit! Yes, we're a large church and that can be intimidating at times, but our church really does a good job at trying to help everyone find a small community to call 'home.'

Paperwork...

2011-03-29T11:27:00.000-05:00

I mentioned at small group last night (as I was clearing the stacks of mail off my kitchen table) that I was tired of getting mail. The girls partly laughed, partly groaned...because they totally understood!

I stay at work on Friday afternoons/evenings to clear away each week's paperwork and prepare for the next week...

It's only Tuesday morning, and my desk, media cart, top of the refrigerator, tops and sides (due to the help of magnets) of filing cabinets and the floor around my desk are already a hodge-podge of paperwork.

When it comes to computer files, I am oh, so organized. When it comes to hard-copy paperwork...not so much.

Anyone have any bright ideas?

Rock a Bye...

2011-03-25T08:34:00.000-05:00

I didn't sleep very well last night, but it wasn't for lack of trying!

I had been getting to bed later than I intended for the past few nights. God's work in me through Haiti and the readjustment period back to Texas was taking it's toll, and I was exhausted.

I decided I'd go to bed early and catch up on rest. I was in bed at 8:15. (Yes, you read that correctly.)

I got a couple of texts around 10:00.

I was awake at 1:15 petrified I'd overslept for work. Ummm, no.

I woke up again multiple times and finally texted Alison at 3:20 that our 5am walk wasn't so much going to happen. I turned off my 4:30 alarm...hoping to get some sleep between 3:20 and 6, when my alarm would now be going off.

At 4:30, she texted back that extra sleep sounded good to her and from then on, I only dozed.

I snoozed quite a bit this a.m. Something I've been successfully attempting to not do lately. I finally crawled out of bed with a very sore throat (dang allergies!) and feeling a little tired.

Friday is my day to work late...and I depend on that time to stay sane. However, I am praying I will sleep much better tonight.

Final Clinic Evening...tomorrow is the beach!

2011-03-24T08:27:00.001-05:00

This was emailed out Thursday morning, March 17. It is the update for Wednesday, March 16.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonswa from Haiti!

Today we went back to the village of Grand Vincent. The view as we drive up to the villages each day is a sight that I will never get used to and is one that, unfortunately, pictures could never do justice. It was our last day of clinic and the guys make some amazing progress of the roof of the new church. We have loved visiting this village because each time we drive up there are children who have already come down the road to meet us and they run behind the trailer waving with huge smiles on their faces because they are so excited we
are there.

Helping in the clinic has been both an amazing and emotionally difficult experience. There have been some encouraging cases where our doctors have been able to help people who have been sick for a long time. Lacey Stockeland and some of our nurses have gotten the chance to teach some of the mothers how to better care for their babies. What great knowledge that they will be able to in turn share with the other women in their village.

Today, we had one of the more difficult cases. A forty-seven year old man came in with a cancerous tumor in his neck. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do for him and he probably wasn’t going to live very long. I was in tears as we circled around this man to pray over him, but at the same time
gently reminded by the Lord that all of our days on this Earth are numbered and we must make the most of each day.

The Lord has placed Psalm 139 on my heart this week. The Lord has ordained every day of our life and He knows every step of our lives: past, present, and
future. We spend so much time worrying and stressing over our past or our future that we miss what God’s will is for our present. My prayer for this week has been that the Lord would allow me to make the most of every moment I have here in Haiti and not to worry about what my future in the States might hold. God has called me, for this week at least, to Haiti and I want to use every chance I get to share His love with the Haitian people.

When we got back to the compound, there was a surprise birthday party waiting for Lacey. The pastors of both churches we have visited and their wives, along with some of the Stockeland’s Haitian friends had come to help celebrate. What a fun time of fellowshipping together!

This week has been a life-changing one for me. I pray that I never forget the work that the Lord has done in my heart this week. Dave Stockeland, the founder of the Haiti Bible Mission, said tonight, “You shouldn’t have to go on a mission trip for the Lord to change your life, but if you go on a mission trip and He happens to change your life, then Praise the Lord!!!”

Bonje bene ou! (God bless you!)

Brittany and the Haiti Team

A break in our regularly scheduled program

2011-03-23T08:56:00.000-05:00

I know Elizabeth Taylor and Haiti don't have much in common...yet in a way they do.

Anyway, I'm inserting a small post here about Elizabeth Taylor. I absolutely love her as an actress. I'm sorry to hear this morning that she passed away. I have no idea if she had a relationship with Jesus. I do know she had some addictions in her life and some heartache that I pray no others have to endure. I regret not praying for her then.

I think I will watch Cat on a Hot Tin Roof this weekend...or maybe National Velvet.

Grand Vincent

2011-03-23T08:34:00.001-05:00

We sent this out the evening of Tuesday, March 15.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonswa. Komon ou ye? I have no idea how to spell these words, but this

is my attempt at saying good day and how are you in Haitian Creole.
This is Aaron giving an update.

It was another exciting morning at 5:30am when the rain woke up
everyone on the roof including myself. Other than a surprise wake up
call, it was another typical day here: eat breakfast and then take a
45 minute rocky ride into the country.

Today, the team was in Grand Vincent. It was another day for the
medical clinic, but it was really the first time that the construction
team started work on the roof. It was difficult to start building
because a lot of the wood was warped and bowed, not exactly your Home
Depot quality wood to work with. Anyways, we were able to get a truss
built. We'll be going back up tomorrow to hopefully finish the
remaining two trusses while the medical team serves more people in
that area.

Highlights of the day:
A few of the team members got to ride on a motor bike up to Grand Vincent.
Kids chasing the trailer full of Americans back down from their village
Team bonding has been fun and we enjoy each others company.
Our Haitian friends sang a song for us.

It's been a good four days so far and I'm looking forward to the fun and challenges that we will face tomorrow and for the remainder of the week.

Alright, it's time to get cleaned up before devotional/debrief time.
Thanks for all your support!

Aaron

First Village Clinic

2011-03-22T08:22:00.001-05:00

We emailed this out the morning of Tuesday, March 15.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good morning, America! This is Katie reporting to you from Haiti. So sorry we didn’t get a blog out last night. Alyssa and I sat with the computer for about an hour trying to get internet connection with no avail. So here’s my attempt to get you guys up to speed on the adventures from yesterday…

We woke up to a typical Haitian morning – roosters cock-a-doodle dooing at 5:30 am, a breakfast of baked oatmeal, and all 20+ of us piling in the trailer to head out to Des Champes for clinic. We encountered a few traffic jams, criticisms from locals, and some very rocky roads before making our first stop at an “orphanage” afflicted with malaria.

As the doctors began to treat those suffering in the home, I made my way to the back of the hut to play with one of the orphan toddlers. I became disheartened as I could not seem to crack even the slightest smile from her after several attempts. This child had been through more loss and abandonment in her mere two and a half years than I had in my twenty-four. What a sobering way to start the day…
My spirit slightly lifted as we pulled up to the church in Des Champes and saw a multitude of parents and children anxiously awaiting our arrival for clinic. As we set up and began seeing our first few patients, I noticed a familiar face – one of the teenagers from the orphanage had made his way to clinic to be treated individually.
After his physical needs were met, he confessed a need for spiritual healing and a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. After coming to the Lord for salvation, I led him over to the church pastor for prayer. Without even the slightest indication, I began to weep and weep and WEEP at the joy of this soul being saved for eternal life!

Two others were also saved later in the afternoon – one being a frail 80 year old woman!

As a young lady who just recently surrendered my life to the Lord (3/13/10), I cannot believe I am witnessing others find salvation in Him. If you told me a year ago, I would be in Haiti planting these seeds of hope and the healing of the Lord in others, I would have never believed you! It is such a blessing to be able to share the grace and life I received when I traded my life for the life and
spirit of Christ.

We view Haiti as a poverty-stricken third-world country in desperate need of our help, intelligence, and monetary resources. In contrast, we view America as the wealthiest land of “freedom” in no need of external aid of any kind. The primary focus God has been impressing on my heart while I have been here in Haiti is how absolutely backward we have it in America. America clings to materialism and pleasure for comfort and fulfillment, while those in Haiti cling to family, the community of believers, and total dependence on the provision of God for sustenance. America sees beauty in sky-scraping lofts, while real beauty is so obvious in the natural landscape and architecture
designed by our God here in Haiti. America stresses over self-inflicted endeavors to gain worldly success, while there is no evidence of selfish worldly gain here in Haiti.

Mark is really challenging our group with going back to Houston and being “radical” for living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s true – the place in which we will all have the greatest impact is in our workplace, amongst friends, and in the comforts of our own home. By seeing the true transformation that Christ brings to those who trust Him and Him alone, we can in turn plant seeds in others. The mission field is not simply in third-world countries. The mission field most available to us (and the one we tend to ignore the most) is our homeland. America is starving for the Gospel, and as each day passes
here in Haiti, this is what I am beginning to realize more and more.

I am so excited to go back to Houston and live radically for the Lord.

My plea to you today is to do the same. Christ never said His way would be easy. In fact, He said it would be narrow and full of persecution. I hope that both you and I can experience this persecution and take JOY in it and in knowing that along with the persecution Christ suffered on Calvary comes eternal life to those who believe and live radically for HIM!

Until tonight’s update,
Katie

My reactions to our first clinic

2011-03-21T21:57:00.000-05:00

I'm not a doctor...or a nurse...

I didn't feel particularly useful at our first clinic. My job was to help someone find glasses that worked for them...if they asked for them. I was supposed to keep them bagged up and out of sight otherwise. Soooo, yeah. Basically, I didn't have much to do.

Until a family of three came in. I'm not sure why, but one of the little girls caught my eye. I asked, through hand motions, if her mother would let me hold her and she agreed willingly and smiling. However, the little girl wasn't so excited about it. It worked out okay at first, but pretty soon she wanted mama...and only mama!

Her older sister on the other hand...I could tell her sweet smile was simply her way of asking to be held. I held her, and I rocked by and forth like I love to do...and I sang. I'm not a singer by any means, but I love holding a little one and singing Amazing Grace. It's my go-to song when I'm holding a baby or toddler and I feel...I don't know how to describe it...a special kinship with my inmost being...as one God created to be a mother. A way of connecting with God through worship and adoration while holding a precious lamb of His. Does that even make sense? Anyway, I'm singing...and she falls asleep...and there is no feeling in the world like snuggling with an asleep child. Oh, I love it!

They were next in line to see Dr. Karen, but the little one I was holding wasn't one of her patients today. I could just hold her...and rock her...and be helpful in that way.

Now the mom ended up being a patient, too. She had a very uncomfortable toe, that the doctors soon diagnosed to be an ingrown toenail. It needed to be removed, and she was petrified. Katherine did a fabulous job. But the woman was so scared, she was trembling. At this point, I handed over the sleeping 3 or 4 year old and wrapped my arms around her mama....I never got their names. I just held her, and sang.

It was peaceful...and such a clear-cut way I could be involved...in such a minor way, but a way I will remember. I don't know if she was a believer, but the name of the Lord is calming...and can be called on in times of trouble...anxiousness...excitement...and simply holding on.

Sunday in Haiti

2011-03-21T08:18:00.002-05:00

We emailed this out Sunday, March 13, about 7:30 in the evening.

----------------------------------------------

Bon Soel!

(Good Evening!)

I just watched a minor surgery take place! THAT was exciting!

Our Internet connection is very slow, so uploading pictures isn't possible. Do we have some to show y'all, though! (Tom, your safety goggles came in handy!) :)

This morning we went to Des Champs, an outlying village of Jeremie for church. The team had a wonderful time! We (Haitians and Americans) worshipped our mighty God together through song, prayer and preaching.
God is good! This church had just completed an evangelism outreach with the children and were passing out Samaritan's Purse "Operation Child" boxes to all the children this morning. Our team's ladies enjoyed rocking the babies of the room at the back while all the parents crowded around to see their older children open their box. It was a blessing to see. =)

I'm going to give Christina an opportunity to write now from her perspective of the rest of the day. Hopefully a different team member will write each day :)

Our trip has been quite adventurous as we travel on a trailer attached to the back of our host's pickup truck. It is a very, very bumpy ride and you have to hold on tight! But the 45 minute rides have been rather enjoyable as we get to see just how beautiful Haiti is. Today we drove through the town, past the beach, over a river (on a bridge of course), and through the bush before reaching the church.

After lunch, we held a trial clinic in the mission's compound. We had 2 doctors and 2 nurses and saw more than 50 people in about 5 hours!

It was a bit crazy at times, but God gave us the patience and wisdom to handle it. One of our patients accepted Christ near the end of the evening! Praise God! We will be taking what we learned today and applying it tomorrow when we hold a clinic in another village named Grand Vincent. We will also begin the construction of a roof on a church tomorrow as well! Keep us in your prayers!

In Him,

Christina =)

Arriving in Jeremie

2011-03-21T08:08:00.000-05:00

As a first time team leader, it was a blessing to arrive with all of our baggage and no problems!

I wasn't sure what to expect from the week. Would we be productive? Would the team feel as if we had wasted time? Would our team continue to serve in unity?

The Lord continued to do more than I could have asked or imagined!

Praise be to the Lord!

We've Arrived!

2011-03-20T08:04:00.002-05:00

Hello Loved Ones!
We have made it to Jeremie! Everything has been INCREDIBLY smooth so far and we are PRAISING THE LORD for that! The Houston team made it to Jeremie with ALL (yes, that's 14 pieces) of our luggage! Don't we serve an awesome God!? The three from Seattle barely made the Miami flight to Port Au Prince due to weather delays, so their luggage will join us tomorrow.

We have spent this afternoon sorting supplies and enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather! It's maybe 65 degrees and breezy. =)

We are excited to visit a village church tomorrow and then we plan to have a clinic here at the Stockelands house for their neighborhood to come too.

Internet connection is spotty, so don't expect to hear from us each day, but we'll email out each day we can!

A friend shared this verse with me in a sweet note and I have been praying it for our team.

Ephesians 3:14-19 "For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in Heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Thank you for your prayers! We feel them and we are so overjoyed to have you in our support circle!

In Christ,

Alyssa

HFBC Haiti Trip 2011

2011-03-20T07:39:00.000-05:00

Haiti Updates...the email way :)

2011-03-20T07:17:00.000-05:00

Bon Jour!

I had hoped to blog throughout our time in Haiti, but the internet connection was spotty...and when we did have access, it was very slow. Sending out email updates was the priority, so the blog got bumped. I'm sorry for that, but I want to post our email updates here with a little of my own interpretation thrown in afterwards. I'm not entirely sure what that looks like, yet pray I will be able to fully articulate what the Lord has done in me and through our team over the last week.

I can't find my camera-computer connection cable right now. So I'll add pictures tomorrow!

T minus 2 days

2011-03-09T21:55:00.000-06:00

I bought a wireless keyboard/mouse, dry dogfood and yellow cake mix today. Random supplies, I know...but that's what the Stockelands requested! We're trying to bless the missionary family as much as possible. I know if I was serving overseas, I would be begging for diet coke :)

We have one completely empty luggage container. We're not traveling with suitcases, but instead with black plastic storage containers. They're on wheels and have a handle. We're just going to leave them there. (Which makes traveling back VERY nice!) I know some items Mark and Lacey want, but am waiting to hear back regarding some more items.

There are only 7 items left on the to-do list and they're all very easily (and quickly!) handled tomorrow.

I'm so excited, but I'm SO TIRED, too. I've seriously been going to bed super early, because I'm just exhausted. (When I say super early, I'm talkin' 7:30 on the couch...early!)

I don't have any pictures today, but will take some soon!

MJ and I met another friend for Tex-Mex tonight. As yummy as it was, it made me ready for some Haitian goodness. I can't pronounce most of the food items, but oh. my. word. Good!

Please be praying for our team as we make last minute preparations! If you would like a prayer calendar, let me know and I'll email one to you.

Haiti

2011-03-08T18:54:00.000-06:00

I knew it had been awhile since I'd posted, but I didn't realize how long it had been. I've thought of things over the last month that I wanted to put on here, but right now their topics escape me.

Tonight, I'm going to post about Haiti. I know I've mentioned it some, but definitely not often enough. I'm leaving for Haiti with a team of 12 from Houston's First Baptist Church this Friday. We'll be gone for 8 days and I'm really excited. And...to be honest, pretty nervous and just a teeny bit scared. Not for my physical safety mind you. I'm not being naive, but we're not going to be in Port Au Prince. We're going to be in Jeremie, a smaller town on the west coast, where crime isn't as prevalent or rampant as is currently the case in PAP. No, my fright comes from wondering what the Lord is going to do. What does He have to teach me? Do I want to learn it? I'm just being honest here...usually the Lord's lessons are hard as I walk through them. It's after I've come through them that I enjoy His smile of pride for a job well done and the wisdom of the lesson learned. During the lesson...well, during the lesson, it just sucks.

My excitement comes from our awesome team. I'm thrilled with the team that God hand-picked. It is so incredibly obvious He put our team together, and I'm over the moon to serve with them. They have each been an immense blessing through this time of preparation. Most of the team has not been to Haiti before, and a few are about to embark on their first mission trip. I CAN'T WAIT to see what God is going to do in their lives and in their walk with Christ.

I'm nervous like I typically feel before traveling internationally. The nerves are mostly due to "What if I forget something?" and this time, I'm worried I'm going to forget something that will affect more than just me. Or what if I mess something up that affects the team? I've led in other areas, but a team overseas is a new experience. I know the Lord has brought me to this time of service. I'm trusting Him for every future step of the way. =) Some minutes I do better at that than others. (Just keepin' it real here, folks.)

I'm packed! I still have some shopping to do for food and miscellaneous supplies we're taking to the missionary family down there. However, my backpack is completely packed. I just made a to-do list and there are 13 items on it...and I just received an email answering one of them! So, it's all coming together!

Praise the Lord!

I plan to blog while we're gone, and hopefully add pictures, too. Be on the look-out for updates!

Father to the Fatherless

2011-02-18T10:51:00.000-06:00

Pete Wilson is in India right now, blogging about his experiences.

I cannot even imagine the emotional pain this little girl has experienced in her life.

I pray God, in His will, erases her memory of that time, and if that isn't His will, that he would enable her to trust Him and shower others with His love because of her story.

Everyone needs healing

2011-02-08T14:11:00.000-06:00

I follow Pete Wilson's blog. I'm pretty sure you've seen his name on here before. :)

He is a pastor in Nashville and is so real in his posts that it's easy to connect with him and his heart behind his message.

Today's post rung true for me.

How often do I forget that every person has a story?

How often do I need to remember to treat each person I come in contact with as a person? Not just a student...or a student's parent...or a co-worker...or a waitress...but as a person.

Lord, help me remember. Give me compassion.

God's Provision

2011-01-28T14:52:00.001-06:00

I know God provides. I trust Him. I trust He provides. Why am I always amazed when He does?

I'm getting a 3/4 crown on one of my teeth next Tuesday. I wasn't sure where the money was coming from to pay for it...but it needed to happen and I scheduled it for Tuesday.

HISD teachers received an extra pay check this past Wednesday.

My check was $3 more than the amount of my 3/4 crown.

Isn't God awesome?

2011-01-23T08:23:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, my mom called me twice when she intended to call my sister. It didn't bother me at all, but she felt guilty for having to hang up on me quickly. It was actually cute to listen to her apologize! Once she even called right back to chat with me because she felt so badly for calling the wrong daughter.

Awww, Mom. You're funny!

Conviction

2011-01-15T13:10:00.000-06:00

I was at church on Wednesday for a meeting and took a couple of minutes to walk through our church bookstore. One book caught my eye, The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. I wasn't sure exactly what he was referring to regarding "the hole," but I paused in my spirit. A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind including we, as American Christians, don't always act Christian.

But, in all honesty, it made me uncomfortable. I didn't pick up the book. I didn't read the back. Just the title...and I was uncomfortable, so I moved on.

I read a friend's blog post today. She and her husband are adopting from Ethiopia and are hoping to bring home their little girl in the next two weeks or so. She's reading a book right now that is changing her viewpoint on Christian action. I'll let you read the blogpost. But you guessed it, the book is The Hole in Our Gospel.

Ok, Lord. I hear you. I will go get it soon.

Odd Evening

2011-01-14T10:06:00.000-06:00

I was driving home from a meeting last night and had a couple of errands to run. I was trying to decide the best order of things. I needed gas, the grocery store, Babies R Us, Hobby Lobby, and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Though not all those things occurred to me at one time.

Sometimes I laugh at my wayward thinking...and sometimes I groan. I've decided I only need a couple things from the grocery store, so I'll go to my neighborhood Randall's instead of dealing with parking at HEB...since it's so cold outside. Hobby Lobby is on the way. Then I remember I'd wanted to stop at Babies R Us...except I remembered as I was driving by the store...which, when on the highway, means I'd already passed it. It's in the same parking lot as HEB, so obviously that makes sense to just handle it all at once. But I've already passed it, so I decide to go on to Hobby Lobby, and then u-turn and come back. It's 7:36 and Hobby Lobby closes at 8...but I know exactly what I need and where it is located, so I know it will work.

Hobby Lobby is the same exit I use to go home. Yep, the SAME exit I use almost every day. If not every day, at least 5 times a week. I mean, it's MY EXIT.

Do I take that exit? Nope. That would make sense.

I didn't think my mind was wandering, but obviously I wasn't paying attention, because instead of exiting the Beltway Frontage Road...I got ON the beltway. Yeah, because THAT didn't take me way out of my way!

Sigh.

So, I exit as soon as possible, u-turn, go through a bunch of red lights and head back to Hobby Lobby. I get what I need and go to HEB where I get gas and stop off next door at Babies R Us. At this point, I decide not to go to the grocery store and know I don't have to go to BBB tonight, so I head home.

I pull into my alley and la, la, la, la, la...just drivin' along. Wha! I just passed my spot!

What's my deal?!

Password, schmassword

2011-01-12T17:54:00.002-06:00

I have so many usernames and passwords floating around in my brain, there is no way to keep them straight. I know I'm not the only one that deals with this. How do you keep up with your passwords?

I try to use the same ones (which I know is a big no-no, so I started mixing it up some...which became part of my problem.) However, our district requires us to change our passwords every 60 days? 90 days? whatever. And we can't use the same password as any of the last 6. Grrr...

Our computer screen goes to 'sleep' after 5 minutes of inactivity. So not only do we have to log in quite often to access email, lesson plans, etc, but we are also encouraged to use many aspects of technology in our lessons. Brainpop, United Streaming, Renzulli Learning, Shelfari, KidsReads, and these are just a few of the resources which we have access. They all require different types of usernames and passwords. Some require capital letters, other require numbers or symbols, still others can only be 6-8, while another one wants 8 or more.

I spent my entire lunch time today attempting to register for a test. When I completed my degree in December, I became eligible to be a Reading Specialist. I have the degree. I do not, yet, have the certification. I went to TEA's website. I only log in there about once every five years, so of course I had to click on "forget username" and "forget password." I have an ID number assigned to me...who knew?

I figured all that out and logged in trying to register for this test. It took ten minutes of surveying the site to realize, they give you the certification (for a small (and random) fee of $77) but they do not oversee the testing.

I went to ETS's website. Yes, I can take the test. I can register, but guess what? I need to log in to the site with a username and password. What's that you say? It's not the same as TEA's username and password? Of course not...because that would be too easy.

I know all this is necessary in our 'identity theft' ridden society, but Holy Time-Waster Batman.

Hi, My name is Alyssa...

2011-01-12T11:28:00.002-06:00

...and I can really be an idiot sometimes.

Choral response: "Hi Alyssa!"

I stayed up until 2:00am last night.

(Oh, it gets better.)

I was watching DVR.

Yup. You know...those little RECORDING machines. Yeah, the ones that KEEP the television shows until you choose to erase them so the shows are available ALL THE TIME.

(Oh, but it gets even better.)

I'd already seen them.

*sigh*

Spam anyone? Did I order this?

2011-01-09T11:10:00.001-06:00

Does anyone else feel like email newsletters have gotten out of control?

At some point over the past years, I've signed up for Delta, American, WebMD, Broadway Across America, Ticketmaster Events, RODEOHouston, HoustonsFirst, Groupon, Southwest, Paradigm, Bed, Bath, and Beyond and I don't even know what all else!

Some of those I'm still interested in, but most I just delete without reading...so why even get it?

Starting Thursday, I began to unsubscribe. Delta, WebMD, Broadway Across America, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Ticketmaster Events are already marked off the list.

Even though I (apparently) ordered it, it's become spam.

A New Life

2011-01-08T17:03:00.001-06:00

I'm still getting used to life after grad school. Having a weekend to do with as I wish is amazingly wonderful!

This week has been slower at work, which means I was home by 4:30 yesterday. I had fun outside. I know it was a LOOOOOONG time ago, but I haven't forgotten about the additions from Joshua or my brownish-green thumb and certainly haven't forgotten about the major changes made over time! This time, I was just doing maintenance. No big changes, so no pics, but I loved it! It makes me smile that I like working outside, because it makes me think of Grandma and how very much she enjoyed 'piddling,' as we called it, in her garden.

I had fun at Mark and Darrick's house last night. We watched the Aggies start off wonderfully well! And then...well, end not as well. However, we had fun chatting, laughing and eating great food!

This morning, a few of us helped Veronica pack and load up the truck for her move to Dallas. I'm sad to see her go. We had fun walking together EARLY one morning each week. However, I know she's excited and following the Lord so I'm excited for her.

From there, I joined Nancy and Roy for breakfast at Pappasitto's. Nancy introduced our small group to Pappasitto's pancakes in early December. They're fabulous! If you haven't been, you definitely need to try it out.

After that, I was going to be productive and run a few errands. I got REALLY sleepy though, so came home for a nap. That I ended up taking 2 hours later because I did get a bit of a productive bug. It was just nice to do things around the house!

While I was writing this post, Katherine called to chat and catch up. I was able to articulate how very much I am valuing my life post grad school. It's just been a new found freedom that I am loving every minute of! Even such a thing as being able to answer the phone to chat when a friend calls!

Kids say the ...

2011-01-07T14:11:00.002-06:00

Under “Reminders” on my board today, it says “Book Order due Wed. 1/12”

As I’m passing out the book order, I say, “When is this book order due?” and one student very proudly calls out “Wednesday and a half!”

Sleepless Nights

2011-01-06T17:42:00.002-06:00

I fell asleep on my couch last night at 6:00 and woke up at 8:45. By the time I turned off the lights, blew out the candles, shut down the computer, set my alarm clock and put a cup in the dishwasher, I was "awake" enough to not go back to sleep....until 1:45am!

Each night this week has been "something" in regards to sleep...not enough of it, or nightmares or weird hours or something.

Here's hoping that tonight is early, restful and uninterrupted!

An overheard convo

2011-01-06T09:42:00.001-06:00

Student: I had a wonderful Christmas Mrs. _________
Adult: What did you get?

Out of all the questions, that was the one asked?

It made me sad.

2010 Annual Review

2011-01-02T11:27:00.001-06:00

I got an idea from Kelly's Korner to do an Annual Review of my life and goals in 2009. I decided it was a great way to reflect and loved doing it here and continued it here. I've decided to do it again this year!

FIVE THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR IN 2010

1. I'm thankful for friends. I love hanging out with my college girlfriends. We try to do it yearly and were able to meet in Houston this year for a weekend of shopping together, laughing together, and praying together. Now that's my kind of weekend!! Each of us had a rough year...or at least a 'weird' year...and it was good to be with women we can count on...let our hair down with...and just cry...and remember...and laugh. Love y'all!

Ever have a friend that you may not get to see all the time, but when you do there's a connection? An honest 'realness' that both of you show?
AJ, you are someone I can be that person with and I love you for it! You make me think. You make me laugh. You push me to be a better me. Love you!

Julie, I love that we think alike and are already thinking the same things about a certain situation before one of us brings it up! :) You make me laugh and smile and laugh some more! I loved watching you lead the women of Paradigm! I love that you're "girly." Your sweet notes and drop by gifts always make my day! Love you!

Melody, your friendship has been constant and I so appreciate that! You're a tenacious friend that doesn't give up. Know that and claim it! Your laughter makes me smile and your name on my phone does the same. I know there are many things that bring up "I'm not sure we can be friends anymore." but I'm oh so glad we can! :) Love you!

Meredith, I'm sitting on the floor of my dining room and thinking of what I want to write about you and just smiling. That's what you do! Your love of music and your love of children and your WONDERFUL teaching all shine through in you. I LOVE that you love kids and want to instill a love for music in them. You are a FABULOUS teacher and whether you continue in your own studio or are on staff at a school, I know you are a blessing. Love you!

2. I'm thankful for my family, both immediate and extended. I love our traditions of gathering at certain places for certain holidays. I love the games we know we're going to play and the new ones we learn. I'm thankful for their advice through life's struggles. I'm thankful we all live within driving distance of each other so we CAN see each other as often as we do.

3. I'm thankful for good health. I never thought about how much that meant, or how much I took it for granted, until I didn't always have it. Right now, I'm doing fine and I praise God for that.

4. I'm thankful for a job environment that is supportive and challenging. I don't always agree with the top dog's decisions, but I love my kids, my team and my bosses.

5. I'm thankful for a church family that has fun laughing and playing together. We are constantly in each other's lives. We grow together. We sharpen each other. We teach each other. We serve together. We stretch each other. We travel together. We work together. We are family.

FIVE WAYS I WANT TO IMPROVE IN 2011

1. I'd like to have more patience. This is a scary thing to pray for...because He will provide opportunities to grow my patience!

2. I'd like to be a better daughter. I want to pray for my parents more often.

3. I want to be a better teacher. I want to search out creative ways to teach a certain concept and not trust the old way all the time. I want see each child as a little person and not just a student. I want to mentor them and help to shape them into the person God has for them to be.

4. I want to pay off debts. This was a little bit of a tough year with some medical bills as well as tuition. I want to be as wise as possible when it comes to spending money and pay off my debts as quickly as I can.

5. I want to make my word mean something...well exactly what I said. I want my yes to mean yes and my no to mean no. My generation has gotten very sloppy with this. I want to model something better for the next generation and glorify the Lord in following His word by doing it.

FIVE WAYS I WANT TO GIVE AND HELP OTHERS IN 2011

1. I have applied to be a Child Advocate. I know adoption is in my future, but it is not in my present. I pray that being a Child Advocate, I can begin helping the neglected and abused NOW even though I can't bring one into my home.

2. I want to pay attention to the little nuances of life through conversations with friends and help when I can. I want to be paying attention enough to think about those little things that can really brighten someone's day.

3. I want to do babysit for friends so they can go out. I want to chat with friends while we clean their house together. I just want to live life together and help someone out at the same time.

4. I want to create a sense of community in my little neighborhood. I'd like to invite my close neighbors over for a meal and start the process of getting to know each other. I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but other obligations impeded the process. Those are wrapped up, so now I can move forward!

5. I want to see a stranger's need and be able to help it practically. I'm not sure what that looks like, but I pray He will show me in His timing.

Where does the time go?

2010-12-31T16:18:00.000-06:00

No, this isn't an introspective email about the last year. :) Just the last couple of days. I've been productive and lazy interchangeably...then all of a sudden it's 2:45 on NYE and my house is a mess and OH MY GOSH I JUST REMEMBERED I'M SUPPOSED TO TAKE SOCKS TO THE PARTY TONIGHT FOR STAR OF HOPE. So I run out the door to Target (major bad decision...there was not one person still in their Houston home...they were all in the mall parking lot.)

I skipped that and went to HEB because I had also forgotten something when I grocery shopped last night. SCORE! HEB sells men's socks! Then raced home, put away all the groceries, PILED up my desk with all the paperwork I have yet to handle as well as the little Christmas items that somehow didn't get packed away and checked on the food items that have already been started.

Seriously! Where did the last couple of days go?

It probably didn't help that I stayed up til 4:30 this morning reading...when I was getting up at 7:30...then took a two hour nap about noon because I could no longer keep my eyes open.

Ready or not, here midnight comes!

Year End Retrospective

2010-12-30T16:59:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of the year, I started "The List" of things I wanted to accomplish this year. Some of those things happened. Some of the desires changed. Some of them are still desires, but haven't happened yet. This is my "end of the year" update. I think I will do this next year, too. It was fun and I enjoyed it a lot! (Partly because I LOVE marking things off a list and partly because it's fun to set goals and then get motivated to achieve them...(so I can mark them off the list!))

This was the original posting:

They are in absolutely no particular order.

__1. Take a self-defense class

_x_2. Pay off medical bills

__3. Go to Chicago

__4. Go skydiving

__5. Take a course on gun safety, get a license to carry a gun and purchase one

_x_6. Re-take the GRE (long story) and work HARD at completing my Master's degree

_x_7. Go cash predominantly (I'm not sure cash only is even an option anymore)

_x_8. Go on a mission trip

_x_9. Plant things (I'm being vague on purpose) in my garden

_x_10. Cook more regularly

_x_11. Figure out why my wifi doesn't work at home

_x_12. Use everything in my pantry before going grocery shopping

_x_13. Re-read the Proverbs 31 woman study...focus hard on the character traits the Lord leads me too

__14. Meet Angie Smith

__15. Visit Crosspoint Church

__16. Meet Brandi and Pete Wilson

__17. Meet the first few requirements in Dave Ramsey's list of 'acting your wage' (I'm using my own words here)

That's what I can think of right now. 17 is an odd number to end on, but I'm okay with that. I can add more later if I want to! :)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are the items I added through the year.

__Researching PhD programs

__Going on a cruise

_x_Post more regularly

__Spend quality time with the Lord more regularly.

_x_Take more pictures of life as it happens!

_x_Write my little Compassion boy more often.

__Plan fun lessons on the SMART board for next year.

__Have my neighbors over for dinner.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, as you can see, I didn't accomplish it all...but hey, that gives me a good place to start for next year!

Wow!

2010-12-08T14:21:00.001-06:00

We had a fun day at school today!

We do these types of days three times a year. We get the kiddos excited about writing and also provide them with experiences to write about! (Two birds with one stone, so to speak.)

Every year, schools in our feeder pattern are asked to exchange stories students have written. We're given a certain prompt, a certain window to do it in, etc. We've never wanted to participate in this, because the timeline doesn't work well. Also, it's asking us to grade someone else's class of papers. And trusting someone else to grade ours? No thank you. This year, when our principal declined, (We can do that due to our exemplary status.) she was asked to give a snippet of our writing curriculum. This was in early November. She responded with information about one of our big writing days. We had just had our first one at the end of October. She ended up presenting the info at a principals' meeting...and then was inundated with people wanting to observe our next presentation.

Voila, we had 50 visitors today! We didn't change any part of our presentation. They're welcome to come, but we do this for the kids. While the students were icing their cupcakes and writing down their brainstorming ideas in their journal, Mary and I fielded a bunch of questions while also helping children.

Then our wonderful team took the students outside for a track break and Mary and I gave a 25 minute overview to all the visitors and had a mini Q & A session. It was fun because I love teaching teachers, but it was EXHAUSTING too...like 'first day of school' kind of exhausting.

Whew!

Just a few thoughts

2010-12-07T19:38:00.000-06:00

I'm currently sitting at a covered dining room table with boxes of Christmas decorations all around my house. Can we say "MUCH BETTER THAN GRAD SCHOOL PAPERS!"

Yes. Yes, we can.

This week has already been busy, but I'm having fun, too!

I submitted my last paper of grad school last night. What a blessing! Afterwards, I took a big sigh of relief and then ordered Domino's to be delivered. Yesssss!

Today I've run errands for work and personal pleasure and then come home to clean and decorate. I won't get it all done tonight, but only because I don't want to rush. I want to enjoy it!

For the love!

2010-12-04T11:50:00.000-06:00

I was putting on make-up this morning and had the little brush used to apply powdery substances in my hand. I use it to apply eyeshadow. I always use it to apply eyeshadow. Uh-huh...always. K? K. So my hand is heading to my eye to apply the shadow, but my eye didn't get closed in time and "poof" that little brush went straight to my eyeball!

OUCH! "What do I do now?" was my first thought. It's not as if I can take a Kleenex to my eyeball.

That ended up being exactly what I did though. Gently.

Talk about bad hand-eye coordination!

December is HERE!

2010-12-03T20:54:00.000-06:00

I'm looking forward to this month so much!

I know it has already started, so that might be a weird thing to say. But I am. I'm ready to be finished with grad school and December is the month! THE month! Wa-hooo!

I took a final on Wednesday. I didn't do great on it, but with all the other points with the semester, I'm not worried about it. And it's over! That's the main thing!

I have a paper due Monday night. While I haven't started writing it yet, I have all the prep work finished for it and that's a huge burden off. This weekend is fairly busy, but the paper will still be written!

And that is my last milestone! I'm not "walking." I just don't care enough, but I've got the papers in the mail saying I'm ready and set to graduate. I just have to finish the 6 hours from this semester. Well, there's only a few days left and then I'll have done it!

My parents threw me a wonderful surprise graduation party while we were in Oklahoma City last Friday. Both sides of extended family came and I felt so blessed and encouraged. It was exciting, completely unexpected and a huge blessing. So fun!

My house is a mess right now. Fall decor is still up. Christmas boxes are unloaded from the car, but don't have any where to go. The sink is full of dishes. Black Friday shopping bags are sitting in the bedroom. I can't even blame grad school work this week. There just hasn't been time to work on grad school or clean/put away!

Ah, well. Just a couple more days. Then I'll breathe a HUGE (read: gargantuan) sigh of relief and really enjoy this month.

There are parties coming up that I could say YES to attend. Do you know how big that is? I've had to say "no" to almost every invitation this semester. Honestly, life got very narrow...and very lonely. I'm so excited to attend activities, meet friends for coffee or dinner and even initiate things at my house!
Yay for December!

Creative? Me?

2010-11-18T15:18:00.000-06:00

I've been doing a study of Proverbs 31 off and on for about a year now. I've really enjoyed it...certainly learning a lot from it, and hopefully applying it, too!

The study is broken into lessons, with each lesson focusing on a particular verse from Proverbs 31.

I've always struggled with one particular verse...24.

"She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants."

The lesson title for this verse is "Creative." I've never thought of myself as creative. I can use a sewing machine (and I'm using the word "can" loosely here...meaning I can do it with a little guidance.) I know how to put a picture up on the wall. (Deciding where to put it is another matter.) I can wield a paint brush. (Choose a color? Choose which wall to paint? Texturing? Not so much.) I have the ability to do these things, but I don't have an eye for what looks really good. I know what I like in decorating, but I don't always know what I want before it's time to decorate. (Bring Hobby Lobby home? That's my motto.)

I have friends that make baby blankets and diaper bags and clothing. Other friends play music beautifully. My mom and aunt are fabulous at decorating a home on any type of budget. Other friends have a fun sense of humor and make the world a better place through laughter. I've just never had that ability or talent or gift....and I kind of think it's all three!

I was talking about this in small group the week we got to this lesson and our mentor said, "You're a teacher. You tutor children. That IS creative. You can help guide them through a confusing concept, see them understand and move forward with new knowledge. I definitely think that's creativity."

I don't know if I can articulate how that rocked my world. ME? Creative? That's something to describe beautiful women who already have it all together. Creative women are ones who can show their family and friends they love them through a tangible item that can be touched, seen, heard. Creativity means praising the Lord through a beautiful voice or instrument. I'm not creative.

But I received her words. I have such respect for her, and have for years, even though I didn't know her well...having listened to her speak at a couple different events, being friends with people who were friends with her...watching her in action, and soaking up the words of a woman who is further along in her Christian walk than I am. I received her words in a way I might not have from a peer.

Hmmm, creative.

I am creative. Helping a child to learn is creative. Saying these words...typing them...is freeing.

I'm so glad our singles' group is working to bring women together from across life's phases to learn from each other and encourage each other!!

What would you say?

2010-11-16T07:04:00.000-06:00

My assignment for this week was to write a response article to this article in TIME magazine. We were to pretend we are nationally known and being paid an exorbitant rate to write this piece.

If you had to write one sentence to explain why you are nationally known in your field, what would you say? Dream big folks! What do you want to do with your career? What do you wish you did differently but for some reason (in or out of your control) that hasn't happened?

I'll start us off :)

Alyssa Ross, a former elementary school educator nationally known for her creative vocabulary activities well adapted to engage any student in learning a wider lexicon and a current professor of education majors at a well-known southern university wrote a follow-up article.

A fresh (inhale deeply!) smile

2010-11-15T18:51:00.001-06:00

I walked in to my patio this afternoon...rushing a bit because the a/c and heating man was on his way...and stopped dead in my tracks. Who brought me FLOWERS!? My hands are full, so I can't open the note right away...and my name isn't on the front, so there's no way for me to recognize the handwriting.

I come inside and quickly divest myself of everything in my hands then admire my bright pink BEAUTIFUL blooms as I tear open the note and smile and laugh at the blessing I have received.

They are in a vase, sitting right beside me as I sit at my computer...and they make me smile just by seeing them out of the corner of my eye!

Readin'

2010-11-14T12:51:00.000-06:00

Keep readin', readin', readin'
Though they're overwhel-helmed
Keep those students readin', right now!

Sang to the tune of Rawhide
Published for my enjoyment =)

Light at end of tunnel

2010-11-13T11:45:00.000-06:00

We all use that phrase. "I can see the light at the end of the tunnel." I've used it repeatedly to refer to a semester in grad school or the end of the school year when I know I'm about to be kid free for the summer! Or really any long term committment that was almost completed.

After I completed the paper last weekend on Affirmative Action, I started to feel as if I could see the light at the end of the tunnel for the completion of grad school. The problem with this particular time of "seeing the light" is that I started acting, just a little bit, as if I was already out of the tunnel. I have one more class session, one more short paper, two more loooong papers and one more final. It's very doable. But it's still work, and they're definitely not completed. So I'm not out of the tunnel, yet!

Last night I went to Nutcracker Market with some friends (and realize I'm a bad group shopper) and then over to Julie B's house to watch Newsies with the girls. We had so much fun, and I'm really glad I went! It's made today a little hard to knuckle down though. I've been up four hours and have been productive in that time period, but I'm only starting school work after posting this...which wasn't so much supposed to happen.

Fall Fun

2010-11-13T11:39:00.000-06:00

I'll be making vegetarian chili this afternoon for Fall Fun tonight!

When I first heard "vegetarian chili," I turned up my mental nose and thought "tofu? in chili? gross!" But this isn't tofu at all and it's REALLY good! I've served it to manly men and petite women and all have given it two thumbs up!

Our Bible study class is having a Fall Fun event this evening with a chili cook-off and pumpkin carving contest. We're also going to have the Texas A&M/Baylor game playing on three different televisions! Apple cider and a bunch of fall decor will complete the fall-themed evening and the Lord has blessed us with cool weather just in time!

I'm looking forward to it! Will post pics!

Pardon me while I act like a 2 year old

2010-11-07T21:46:00.000-06:00

I don't wanna integrate Huntington into this research paper. He's a loony conservative who doesn't represent us very well. I've got my thoughts down on paper, but we have to integrate all the readings together...and I just don't wanna!

No! NO! No!

Sigh...ok...I'll go do it.

Resting in Christ

2010-11-07T09:40:00.000-06:00

My Sunday school class is having a retreat this weekend. Acreage, campfire, sprawling house, no television, dirt roads, running water, swing sets, volleyball courts...you get the idea. Nature in a civilized way...my favorite retreat.

I have a paper on preventing bias in young children due Monday night at midnight. There was quite a bit of reading in preparation for this paper and I realized on Thursday afternoon that I had read one of the wrong books. Yikes! Saturday was spent finishing the correct book and also watching a required film.

Due to this assignment, I wasn't able to go the retreat, but I did pop out there for a brief time during the praise and worship/campfire. Julie and Dan are finished with their leadership roles and we presented Julie with the gift we had collected for her. (Dan had to make a sudden trip out of town.) We also prayed for her and spent time in prayer for our new leaders as well. It was a sweet time for sure.

The part I wasn't expecting is the reminder to rest in Christ. Josh had prepared a short devo and he focused on sharing our yoke with Christ...resting with Christ. I remember him saying, "I don't ever think, at the end of a day, 'Man, I shouldn't have spent so much time with the Lord this morning. I didn't get enough done at work. But there are definitely times I think 'I wish I had spent more time with Christ today. I think today might have gone better, then."

I haven't been spending time in the Word lately. I haven't been going to Christ with my struggles. My soul is weary from trudging through. A friend mentioned something to me on the phone awhile back about making sure to have quality time with Christ and I remember thinking "You just don't understand. I don't have TIME." I know better than that. As I'm typing this, I'm shaking my head at my own stupidity. Seriously? I'm 30 years old and have been a child of God for 22 years. You would think I would have learned something by now!

My paper is rough, but I'll get it finished today. I feel pretty good about it. There are two more papers to write. They WILL get finished. I'm choosing to rest in the Lord instead of worry about it. I realize that will be a daily battle...especially closer to the due date for each one. Feel free to remind me if I slip and start stressing.

(I know I'll regret typing that last sentence, but I'm still not going to take it out! )

A reminder...

2010-11-06T13:06:00.002-05:00

I had Taco Bell for dinner last night. I don't think I had eaten it since college...and was reminded why adults don't need to eat there. It is gross and cheap, thus a love of college students.

Yuck!

Riddle me this...

2010-11-05T12:58:00.000-05:00

Three cars pull up from separate ways and stop at a a 4 way stop sign. All three cars proceed through the intersection at the same time without a collision.

How does this work?

Now I remember/understand

2010-11-01T20:58:00.000-05:00

Last night was Halloween. I was home with all the lights on and a bowl of candy ready to go. My doorbell rang a few times...almost all with older children that were not dressed up and were carrying around pillowcases for their candy. They were also picky about what candy they would take.

Now I remember why my parents started leaving the house for the evening of Halloween...it's not fun when it's punks.

!@#$%^&

2010-10-29T10:01:00.000-05:00

We had a gradebook problem...just a little one. Basically one student needed to be changed to a different class assignment. The registrar made the change and the update happened overnight. Except when that happened, it erased ALL of his grades!

mailto:!@#$^&

Exhaustion

2010-10-26T06:04:00.000-05:00

I'm tired and I'm feeling a little whiny and OH MY WORD this weekend was fun, but busy. (And yes, I'm aware that really none of that sentence in anyway relates, much less should be in the same sentence.)

There's just something about being around people that have known me a long time. Y'all know what I'm talking about. The tears flow. The laughter doesn't stop. The drama that had been is brought up and laughed about or conveniently forgotten because you're just that loved. I had that this weekend. And I needed it...badly. I didn't realize how much I needed it until Friday night as the tears are flowing. Each time we gather, we give prayer requests. Am had brought the most recent list with her and we updated and then exchanged new ones and prayed for each other. It was emotional, uplifting, encouraging and a sweet time of sisters in communion with the Holy Spirit kneeling at Christ's throne beseeching Him on a wide spectrum of topics. And HE cares. And so do we, each of us committing to pray and fussing at each other when life situations arise that we don't communicate.

I absolutely adore my Ouachita girls and am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with their friendships. We don't talk as much between girls' weekends as we intend to or want to, but each time we get together, we really do pick up where we left off.

Sunday night I saw a grade for my most recent "Columbus is a murdering man" paper. It stunk. Truly. And I emailed the instructor because I had been told the draft was very good and I made the corrections mentioned. So why is the final grade so low? I read my email to Mom to make sure I was being respectful and she agreed it was. I was reamed by the instructor in his response. Always nice.

One student posted on the discussion board. He was basically asking if anyone else was having difficulty processing the amount of information we're having to read. He's overwhelmed. (It's heavy material and LOTS of it. The next assignment requires two whole books, parts of two other books, multiple articles (or a whole book), a movie and interviewing three different people. The topic is affirmative action. A good topic by all means, but a heavy topic. An emotional topic. And our paper is due two weeks from today. Only three weeks after the last paper. All of the students in this class work full time and are taking other classes too, so the amount of reading for this class is quite difficult to accomplish.) Anyway, he posted his feelings of being overwhelmed. The professor's response? "Good problem."

So I receive the instructor's email reaming me regarding my last paper. He wants me to rewrite it. (Ha! As if there is time for that!) The professor thinks it's good that her students are overwhelmed with material. All of this led to my fb status last night: "No one appreciates a professor who has the perspective that her class is the only thing important."

Walk of Faith

2010-10-17T22:13:00.000-05:00

Isn't the Lord good?

He is. All the time. Literally. ALL of the time, the Lord is good. But sometimes, I forget that. Or don't trust that. Or don't walk in the faith of that truth.

As all I've been talking about lately is grad school, why differ from the norm? I'll give a grad school example of how the Lord was good to me today. I'll write a different post tomorrow on what the Lord showed me in class tonight, because He is awesome. But for now, a student's example.

I turned in a paper two weeks ago. It was a first draft and was worth 7 points total. I received the instructor's comments and overall grade added up to 5, but he had the total as 6. At first, my flesh thought "Hey, he made a mistake...who am I to correct him?"

We are to make revisions based on the instructor's comments and turn it in tomorrow. I completed that yesterday afternoon and was convicted to email him about the grade disparity. I just heard back. He said he gave me an extra point for my overall work and he didn't think a 5 reflected that. The Lord blessed my obedience by allowing me to hear a compliment. I've never had a strong self-efficacy regarding my writing and slowly but surely the Lord is using different people to allow me to see a different perspective. Not only did I truly earn the 6; it wasn't just a typo, but I also received a compliment. That assignment was really hard, so to hear that the instructor thought I did well was good to hear!

God rocks!

I'm never going to get it right...and I need to stop beating myself up about it.

2010-10-17T12:55:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine has this has his FB status today:

"Every week when I leave church I am convicted of just how much I rely on myself and how I can handle things.... And how little I rely on Christ and how HE handles everything! I'm 32 years old and it seems I have to learn this weekly... Make that daily."

Not even an hour ago, I was on the phone with my mom fussing about how much grad school is ruling my life. I mean SERIOUSLY ruling my life. I have a paper due tomorrow, a thesis outline and references due Wednesday, a Reflection paper due Wednesday, a huge paper due November 8 that has probably 100 hours of preparation linked to it...and I could go on and on. Yes, the test yesterday is over. Yes, that is a HUGE relieft to have it off my plate...but there is still more to do. Work is really overwhelming right now too. REALLY OVERWHELMING. Our district wants an effective teacher in every classroom and in the process to make that happen, they're going to send MANY effective teachers packing. I won't go into the details since this is a public blog.

In the course of my conversation with Mom, I tell her I have to remind myself that I really do WANT this degree. I CHOSE to go to school. I WANT to graduate and I HAVE learned A LOT and ENJOYED most of my classes and learning.

All of that to say, J's status really hit home. I need to be relying on Christ alone. I need to go to Him when I'm tired and overwhelmed. I need to quit relying on my own energy, stamina, knowledge and experience. I need to realize He is my refuge. My cup isn't currently overflowing...and that's my own fault because I'm not going to Christ or spending time in His word daily.

So often I feel as if I'm making it. I'm in control. I've got my act together. That's a crock. I have a black heart full of sin and I'm a messed up woman. Christ has redeemed me and too often I forget that.

Jesus, thanks for the reminder. I needed it today.

Easier Things

2010-10-15T11:04:00.002-05:00

Does anybody else look at the pile of laundry that needs washed or the stack of papers to grade or the blank lesson plans and think "You know, I really need to arrange the books on my bookshelf?"

Just a thought...

2010-10-14T13:00:00.000-05:00

I've taken today off work to study for the Comps on Saturday. I took Tuesday of last week off work, too. I've made tons of progress and feel ok about the test.

During these days, I've gone for walks, done laundry, watered plants, worked in the kitchen, etc. I absolutely love sitting at my dining room table with the window cracked open and the blinds all through the house letting sunlight stream through.

While enjoying these days at home, I've decided something.

It would really be better for children to have two months off school when they can be outside enjoying beautiful weather. It's not scorching hot. It's not dry and blistering. It's absolutely beautiful, with crisp cool air and even a breeze sometimes!

I know this may not be the case across the nation, but I think we should go to school in June, July and August and instead be off in September, October and November...but that's just me.

=)

Emotional Eating

2010-10-13T12:44:00.000-05:00

I didn't sleep well Monday night...stayed up too late and then was restless throughout the night.

Which means Tuesday was full of caffeinated beverages!

At the end of the day, I read this post...and by the end I'm tearing up because I want a baby someday, too and laughing because she's just so real.

A parent of a 4th grader (not one of mine) came and talked with me about a project she was helping us with. Long story short, she's not going to to do it...

She'd already rubbed me the wrong way a few weeks back about being willing to help her child's teacher, but not willing to do enough to help me too. The project is making the game Concentration with vocabulary words and definitions. Several parents are helping and they're all making 10 sets of each list of words. 5 sets for one reading teacher and 5 sets for the other reading teacher. This particular mom wasn't willing to make 10 sets...and wanted me to find another parent willing to make my 5 sets. Yeah...rude.

And now, she's not going to do it at all.

So I'm tired because I didn't sleep well.

I've dealt with a parent that is backing out when we need the materials she had volunteered to do.

I've read a post that has me laughing and crying.

But mostly, I'm tired.

I go home and eat chocolate pie...ummm, half the pie.

Yeah, not supposed to do that. (I hear Hagrid in my head saying "I wasn't supposed to tell you that. I was NOT supposed to tell you that.)

Move it along!

2010-10-10T10:52:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I worked on outlining one of the eight questions I have to be prepared for next Saturday.

It's an outline.

It's over 5 pages long.

On to the next question!

Remember those commercials?

2010-10-09T09:46:00.000-05:00

I woke up at 5:49 this morning and my first thought was "Yikes! I didn't set an alarm. Thank you Lord for waking me up" then I set my alarm for 6:00 and lightly dozed off. I snoozed at 6:00 and 6:05 and 6:10...at 6:11 I remembered today is Saturday.

Sigh...

Sore Knee

2010-10-05T07:22:00.000-05:00

Our church had the Lord's Supper on Sunday. Traditionally, we have tables around the Worship Center with the bread and juice. Whenever you feel ready, you get up and go get some from the deacons passing it out. During the time of quiet music and reflection, I stood up to get in line. Two friends were still praying and I had to stretch my legs a bit to get past them. I lost my balance and cracked my knee against that little box thingy on the chair in front of us that holds the Bible and pens, etc.

I don't have a war wound (sadness!)

But it's still very sore =(

This week's paper (different from paper in previous post)

2010-10-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

Every Wednesday for my Principles of Human Learning class, we have a Reflection Paper due. We read a chapter and sometimes an assigned article and then answer some questions. The paper is approximately 2-3 pages in length and isn't necessarily difficult, because it asks for classroom examples and perspectives based on experience, though it does take time. This is the assignment that is due this Wednesday. I love it!

Reflection Assignment #5

This assignment will NOT BE accepted late.

Papers should be neatly typed and formatted in the following style:
Heading: Name, EPSY 6340, Reflection Paper #5, and Date
Margins: 1” (left, right, top, bottom)
Font: Times New Roman / Size 12
Line Spacing: Double spaced

Due Date: Hard copy due October 6, 2010

Read Chapter 7 in your text and be prepared to discuss Cognition and Instruction in class on October 6. In addition, complete the exercise below.

1. Your assignment this week is the result of the analysis of two prevailing variables and one intervening variable. The two prevailing variables are:

 Dr. Schoger needs time to grade midterm exams.

 The students in EPSY 6340 studied hard for their midterm and need a break.

The intervening variable is:

 Dr. Schoger will be out of town for the next two weekends – one for pleasure, one for business,

Analysis of these variables, and their significant effect on the participants, demonstrate a need for a “freebie” this week for the reflection assignment. There is one thing you will be required to turn in, though. Print this page, and fill out the statement below.

I studied so hard for my midterm exam that I will positively reinforce myself this weekend by doing something nice for myself.

This is what I did for myself:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Grading Rubric:

Student did something nice to reinforce appropriate studying behavior - 10 points

A paper written...twice...but not finished

2010-10-02T21:43:00.000-05:00

I've written, in all fairness, two different incomplete papers today.

The assignment: Assimilate and think about the issues raised by the authors. In your essay,
(a) Write a letter to the Texas School Board members with your proposal for the revision of the social studies curriculum.
(b) Include main ideas and examples from the sources in this assignment or write a forward or afterword using the assignment's materials. Finally,
(c) Discuss the implications of the authors' arguments for you, personally, and your chosen area of work. Give specific examples.

Why should this be confusing?

Well, there is the word "essay" and the word "letter." Those are not the same. There is also the assumption that all students in this class are familiar with the state's social studies curriculum. I am a social studies teacher and completed all of my schooling in Texas, but not all students in this class have that background. None of our readings included the current state curriculum. The assigned readings were quite extensive and intense, thus anyone needing to research the state curriculum would be quite taxed on time to be able to do so.

What if I don't think there needs to be any changes? (I mean...based on the assigned readings.)

One book we were assigned to read was from an extreme conservative. The kind of conservative that thinks America should return to an entirely Anglo-Protestant republic, which gives all conservatives a bad name. The other book we were assigned to read touts Washington and our Founding Fathers to be rich, white, Protestant men that were only concerned with lining their pocketbooks and giving themselves freedom. Lincoln didn't really care about slavery. Every politician and army in our nation's history was only concerned for Manifest Destiny. We murdered anyone who got in our way.

You could say I didn't do much agreeing as I read.

I began one paper, that was quite well written and researched, if I do say so myself. But it didn't really address the assignment. I was on page 5 (the assignment is for 7 pages.)

I've saved it...though I'm not sure to what end.

And I started over.

I'm on page 5 again....and stopping for the evening.

I'm at least on the right track now, but there is still some rewriting and editing and writing and then rewriting again that needs done.

Phantom Noises

2010-10-01T11:28:00.000-05:00

I thought I had posted about this already...but I can't find it. Alas, it's today's post! :)

I've been hearing phantom noises lately. At first, I would hear my cell phone ring as if it were coming from another room...you know, distant, faint, but noticeable. Except, my phone would be sitting at my elbow and obviously not ringing. I shrugged it off as being a neighbor's phone...but weird (because that would be a REALLY loud ring for me to be able to hear it and because almost no one uses the same ring I do.)

Then a couple of weeks ago, I sat straight up in bed about 1:30 in the morning having heard the door bell. I hesitantly checked the door. No one was there. No one was outside. No one was anywhere near my house...nor did I hear giggling from some prank child around the corner.

I heard the doorbell again last night about 3:45am. I did NOT go to the door this time. I think I'm imagining things...but how the heck does it wake me up from (what had been) a SOUND SLEEP?

I'm still hearing the phantom phone rings, too. It happens 3 or 4 times a week. And the doorbell thing has now happened 3 times in the last couple of weeks.

Ugh...I need therapy!

One thing FINISHED!

2010-09-29T20:28:00.000-05:00

Read that title and picture me throwing my fists up in the air in celebration while I shout "FINISHED!"

I took my Principles of Human Learning midterm tonight. I feel pretty good about it overall, but more importantly.....

It's MARKED OFF THE LIST!

2010-09-28T02:57:00.001-05:00

Major headway! Major! MAJOR, I tell you!

I have 8 questions to study for my Comps test on Oct 16. I now feel extremely confidant about one entire question and quite confidant about another entire question (yes, entire! not just part!)

I also finished reading about the awfulness that was our nation's beginning. (I'm being sarcastic...I mean I'm not, because that's what I had to read about...but the fact that the author (and thus the professor for choosing this book) are painting it to the extreme would be an understatement indeed.) The fact that I have zero respect for my professor (outside of the fact she is in the position of controling my grade)...

I still have two chapters to read about how Anglo-Protestants are at fault for everything our nation has ever done badly. Then I am to write a letter to the State Board of Education proposing changes to the Social Studies curriculum...changes from this reading! Lord, help! (He already has...I'm planning to quote Pastor Gregg from Sunday's sermon!)

Buuuuut, I steered off topic. I read one chapter (almost 50 pages) and prepared for two essay questions. Success!

Now, I'm off to bed!

Thank you, Lord!

2010-09-27T13:16:00.002-05:00

I just emailed my pysch professor and asked if my thesis outline could be turned in Oct 20 instead of Oct 13. (My comps test is Oct 16) and she said that would be fine! I almost didn't ask...because I didn't want her to think I don't think her class is important...but she was pretty supportive when the Comps test came up last week in class and I just decided to go for it. Praise the Lord!

It means the weekend of Comps will be the test and then working on my thesis outline...but it means I can take that totally off my plate until after the test!!!!

Praising Him!!!

Power Outage

2010-09-27T08:48:00.000-05:00

We lost power at school on Friday. Children enjoy hearing themselves squeal when lights barely flicker, much less go out altogether! At first, the power was out for about five minutes. They just barely came back on before they went off again...this time for close to an hour! It was after lunch, but not quite dismissal time. We do have windows, but due to the rain, it certainly wasn't sunny out. The students did a great job of completing the assignment we were on, then we had fun by cleaning out our desks and our totes. Children LOVE cleaning things! It's amazing to me, because you know they don't like cleaning at home...but they absolutely love cleaning things at school. We threw away old papers, wiped out desks, put books in their proper places, etc.

All in all, they did great, but it was sure an interesting afternoon!

Bunko Fun

2010-09-26T14:15:00.000-05:00

We had a ladies' event at my house last night. Sheri, Dawn and Meredith did an awesome job planning it! I was asked to provide the location and didn't have to do any of the other prep work...it was fantastic!

I really do need to get better at taking pictures! =(

We had 15 girls by the end of the night. Most were new to Bunko, but it's an easy game and all picked up on the rules quickly. Sheri had planned 'get to know you' questions to ask before each round, so it was a great way for all of us to get to know each other. Paradigm is growing so quickly that many people didn't know each other. "If you found a $100 bill, what is the first thing you would spend it on?" and "If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?" are fun questions with short answers...and then the head table's bell would ring and everyone was focused on those die!

We had lots of laughter and many talked about getting together for future game nights!

Reflections

2010-09-25T13:38:00.000-05:00

I thought this was interesting...

2010-09-25T08:40:00.001-05:00

I know I've already written about being overwhelmed, but as that is my life right now and this is my blog, I'm going to write about it again.

My Principles of Human Learning midterm is Wednesday.

I have a major paper due on October 4 in Cultural Foundations of American Education. I am to write a letter to the State Board of Education proposing changes to the Texas Social Studies Curriculum. So far I've read about how Columbus was really a mass murderer in one book and in another I've read about how we should go back to our Anglo-Protestant roots as that is clearly the only people group the founding fathers wanted to give freedom. Oh, let me tell you. (I hate it when conservatives are portrayed as being idiots...one man does not speak for us all.)

On October 13, I need to turn in a title, references and outline for a thesis paper within my Principles of Human Learning class. I am researching Vocabulary Instruction with English Language Learners. I never write outlines for papers. I just start writing...and usually do pretty well. This will be an extra step and while I appreciate the fact that it makes me stay on top of the research, it is something else on my plate.

October 16 is my Comps Test. I have a packet to study with 8 questions. There will be 3 on the test. Here is just a sampling:
"Develop a list of 6 books that you consider "The Best of Children's Literature" (this does not necessarily mean 'old' books like Black Beauty). Select two realistic fiction novels, two historical fiction novels, and two fantasy novels. Defend your choices and include in your rationale specific ways that these books meet the criteria for excellence in each genre. What age or grade level does each book seem best suited for, or does it defy such boundaries? What is it that places each of these books head and shoulders above the hundreds of other juvenile books that are available?"

Breaking it down...I have to choose 6 books (out of thousands). I have to know and understand the criteria for each genre. I have to be discerning with age and grade appropriate materials and be able to identify why these books are 'head and shoulders above the rest.' This is hours of work. This is only one question. There are seven others.

I am not a person that can usually say 'no' when asked to do something. So far I have said no to two different things. Yes, I'm actually proud of myself, thank you. (And the people I said 'no' to were very understanding and supportive about it!)

Morale is really down at work right now. Really down. I won't go in to details because this post has been long enough, but it's another thing weighing on me.

Looking over a calendar...well, I can understand why I'm overwhelmed. I just want October 16 to be over.

Dad's Visit

2010-09-23T15:04:00.000-05:00

Dad came in town on Tuesday night for business. He had a show to work Wednesday and Thursday as well as some appointments, but we were able to hang out in the evenings.

I am blessed that my family lives close enough to be able to drive down fairly often!

I took Dad to Lupe's to enjoy beef fajitas. Well, actually Dad took me to Lupe's! :)

Last night, we both got in late. He had a client dinner and I had grad school. But this morning, we got up and went walking.

Dad's dad just moved into an assisted living facility, so Dad caught me up on all the happenings. In cleaning out Papa's house, they came across many pictures that hadn't been seen in years. It was fun to have a family history lesson!

Blogging and Recipe Update

2010-09-21T03:14:00.000-05:00

I've blogged more this month than June, July and August combined. I find that interesting since those are the summer months. And I'm a teacher. Meaning I have more time in the summer...but whatever.

Everyone absolutely LOVED these rolls! Even people that don't like blue cheese thought they were wonderful. I think I'll try feta next time...just to be different.

Pastry Brush, where are thou?

2010-09-20T21:35:00.002-05:00

I bought a silicone pastry brush on Saturday. On Sunday, I went looking for it and realized I didn't remember putting it away. I dug through a pretty gross trash can to get to the plastic bags...no luck. I looked in the trunk of my car to see if it had fallen out...nope. I had finally handled a big stack of paperwork Saturday night, which mean the receipt had been shredded, so I have no idea if I actually paid for it...but either way, it's not here.

Emotions

2010-09-20T06:14:00.001-05:00

I've been feeling lots of extreme emotions lately.

Satisfaction at the completion of a hard assignment.

Confusion in the midst of several changes at work.

Feelings of low morale at work while our uppermost administration makes some changes. One co-worker said it best, "The administration doesn't trust us, and we don't trust the administration." There is currently a chopping block set up and it feels as if most any one's head is on it.

Frustration with school and one of the classes' assignments. They don't seem to make sense. They also don't seem to show respect to all sides. As a believer in Jesus Christ, my flesh is frustrated when the world wants and demands respect from all, but does not give it to all...and Christianity and Christians seem to draw the short straw continually. I am aware the Bible talks about this, prepares us for it even, but that does not make it easy.

Loneliness...I'm struggling for community. A friend hurt my feelings pretty deeply several months ago. I'm not sure how to solve it...or if it's 'solvable' and if it is, what to do about it. It seems as if everyone is living a life that doesn't include me. I know that's not the case and at the moment maybe I'm having a pity party, but the hurt is there. Tears are welling up as I type this and since I'm not a crier, I'm not sure how to handle that.

Sadness...a good friend of mine is hurting deeply due to situations completely out of her control. And I hurt for her. I know prayer is powerful. I've seen its results...lived them...believe in them. But I want to do something more than pray and I just don't know what to do.

Overwhelmed. Grad school is kicking my tail. I know it's over soon. I get that. But it's not over right now. And it's not just the semester of classes, but the Comprehensive Examination I have to take in the middle of October before I am eligible for graduation. UH stinks when it comes to anything administrative and I constantly feel behind the curve when it comes to being prepared.

Loss and transition...my assistant principal is moving to Fort Worth. She's already gone most days of the week, usually in school one or two days every other week. She's officially gone in December. She is the glue that keeps our school running. Don't think I haven't thought about following her!

Drowning...the medical bills have started in again. I sat down to pay bills last night and quickly felt as if I didn't know which way was up. I've had to stop saving money, because those funds are needed to pay bills. I've never had debt before and do not like how this feels.

Like I said...extreme emotions...and none of them have been very good. I'm frustrated, confused, overwhelmed and feel as if I don't really have an end in sight. Not true, I realize, but my feeling nonetheless.

Mystery Rolls

2010-09-19T14:33:00.000-05:00

I found a new recipe from The Pioneer Woman. She's like my personal cookbook. I don't have to flip pages. I just type in a key word or click on a category and skim for something I like.

Becca asked me to bring a snack of some type to class so we'll see what people think about these!

Fall Leaves and Temperatures

2010-09-19T10:27:00.000-05:00

I know it's a little early in the season. I mean, it's not even officially 'Autumn' according to the calendar.

But I want it to be.

I want cooler temperatures.

I LOVE Fall decorations.

I see little scarecrows and pumpkins and mums and hunter green and burnt orange and rust red in the stores and I imagine my house covered in them.

I'm ready for crisp breezes and long sleeve shirts and boots and pumpkin spice wafting through my house.

I'm ready for fall.

So...I redesigned the blog colors with Fall in mind.

I might be able to wait until next weekend to decorate for my all time favorite season...but I doubt it.

Dinner for the Neighbors

2010-09-18T19:48:00.002-05:00

It's been on my list for awhile.

I've been a little nervous to actually do it. I mean Jesus would want me to and people think Jesus is weird. Hospitality? In your home? With kinda complete strangers? Who does that in today's day and age?

But I want to have them over. I want to get to know them. This home may be temporary, but why should that stop me? I've been here a little over a year and so far I know almost all my direct neighbors by name and all of them by sight. I know what a few of them do for a living and can chat with the little old ladies as they move down the sidewalk with their walker and their dog attached to it. (Something that never ceases to stop my heart's beat for a moment!) But I don't know much more than that. I want to change that.

I'm not sure how or when...but soon.

Why would it be a big deal? I mean, they're neighbors. I live near them. But it's not like I have anyone's phone number. I don't know their last names. And it's a little awkward to go knock on their door and say, "Hey, want to come to dinner?" So I'm hoping to do it casually. When I see them in passing. Now the decisions of what to serve, how many of them to invite (there are 7 in all, plus me) and also trying to figure out if any of them already know each other!

You can make fun at my inner conundrum if you'd like.

But I still want to do it.

Spending a Day Off

2010-09-18T12:02:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was Fall Holiday in HISD, so we didn't have school. However, the building was open (which doesn't happen...like ever) so I was able to go catch up on a few things. I couldn't stay late on Thursday afternoon, so didn't have lesson plans finished, papers graded or copies ready for next week. That's never a good feeling, so I was glad to get in and accomplish quite a bit.

Then I ran to UH. As I posted about earlier, I'd been given the wrong textbook. I drove around for awhile...Have you ever tried to find parking on a college campus?! And then was able to handle the book. They gave me my money back and I purchased four of the five books I do need for this class. Yep, I said five books. I still need to buy the other one. Gotta find it in paperback first...I wasn't willing to pay for the hardback version.

After that, I walked across campus to the building I meet in for classes so I could turn in paperwork for a test I have to take in October. Turns out, I wasn't able to do that...I didn't have all the correct papers with me, so something to do another day.

My last stop of the day was to recycle all the items that had been in my trunk for about a month...just waiting for me to be anywhere near the recycling plant.

Home at 3:45...about the time I would have arrived home if I had actually worked yesterday. But not having kids is a nice break and accomplishing errands is always a good way to mark things off a list.

Now to pay bills, clean the house and do some baking! But first...Lupe's for lunch. Mmmmm!

If you can hear me, clap once.

2010-09-16T15:28:00.002-05:00

Every teacher has a bag full of tricks for getting a group of students' attention.

The classroom may get too noisy during group work. The assembly hasn't quite started yet, but the conversations sure have! Going home...oh, the woes of dismissal duty. I HATE DISMISSAL DUTY! Yes, I just shouted that out loud in my head. It's the end of the day on Thursday. We don't have school on Friday. I should be ecstatic, but instead my eyes are almost crossed from the pain of this headache. Why do I have a headache?

There are more than 200 students in the cafeteria during dismissal and that is my assigned duty station. I have no control over the number of children. I am asked to keep them quiet and get them safely on their bus or day care van.

Typically, when an adult says (in a regular voice) "If you can hear me, clap once. If you can hear me, clap twice" it takes just a moment to have a completely silent room...even a large room. Not so at dismissal. The caucophony of sound is beyond anything any child cares to change. They feel as if they are free and they do not care to be restrained. There are approximately 6 adults in the room. Some of them care about the noise and the dismissal procedures. But sometimes, we just want to chat and don't pay attention to the din of sound echoing around us. Hey, it's the end of the day and we're tired, too.

My throat hurts from trying to project my voice to be heard. My head hurts from the noise and frustration of trying to get all those kiddos safely (and quickly) out the door.

Any teachers out there? Can I get an "Amen!"

7:11

2010-09-16T07:56:00.001-05:00

I've seen several FB statuses about looking at the clock and it being 9:11. I'm not saying that has never happened to me, but I don't remember it. I do however, look at the clock and see 7:11 quite frequently.

I remember a time when I was 7 years old and my sister was 11 years old. We both got a kick out of our ages being 7/11 and joked about selling slurpies to the public. I know it's a little thing, but we laughed about it and I still smile each time I look at the clock and see 7:11.

Private Eye

2010-09-15T09:04:00.002-05:00

I'm a crime show junkie...I admit it. I've never been in to the reality television. It just seems stupid to me. (Can we still be friends?) But the crime shows...I love them! My newest faves are White Collar, Covert Affairs and Rizzoli and Isles, but I also love CSI: NY, NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles. Oh and how could I forget Criminal Minds! Derek Morgan, you are my husband. You just don't know it yet!

I DVR all of them (oh, the DVR...how I love thee!) and love catching up on multiple shows at once while unwinding from a long week.

So yes, I love the crime shows, but I have found myself turning into an investigator in my personal life. I don't mean asking nosy questions. I just mean in general observation skills. I'll start noticing the cars around me and practicing how long I can memorize their license plate. What if they commit some heinous crime and the police need to find them and I'm their only lead!?

I know. I'm a nerd. It's okay. I've embraced it.

This morning a big truck was a little too close to my bumper. There was plenty of room for him to go around, but apparently he didn't want to. I changed lanes and we ended up being next to each other at a red light. I made a point to see it was a RAM 2500, gray in color and when he pulled out at the light, he had one of those attachments at the back with (what looked like) a motor of some sort to run a machine. I couldn't see the plates and then noticed he was turning...into the fire station. So first thought, ok...he's a fireman (um, is he hot? Man! Wish I'd gotten a better look, because there is just something about a man in uniform!) Then I thought...I'd better pay attention this afternoon, because if the fire station has been blown up, I want to let them know I saw something suspicious.

Yes. Yes. I have a sickness.

If it weren't screwed on...

2010-09-13T12:31:00.002-05:00

I have several tupperware containers of vegetable soup in my classroom fridge. Hi...have you been in Houston lately? Yeah...don't want to eat hot soup. Blech, blah, nope.

I'll take it home and freeze it until December...or January...when we might have a few days of cold weather.

So today I ran to McDonald's...it's the only drive thru place close enough to school where teachers can run and be back in time to eat and still pick up our students from the cafeteria on time.

I pull up to the pay window and see the car in front of me drive off. Not pull forward...drive off.

I pull forward to the 2nd window and see Happy Meals, multiple drinks, etc and say "I think that might be theirs" and about this time the SUV started to back up. She had been just about to pull out of the parking lot. The embarrassed mom rolled her window down and laughingly said, "I don't know where my mind is today."

We've all had those days before I think!

What happened to etiquette?

2010-09-13T10:34:00.001-05:00

I know there are definitely things about "old-fashioned" etiquette that no one misses. Ladies unable to breathe from tight corsets or practicing their posture by walking around with books on their heads.

But there are some things that etiquette is good for. =)

I once read from Ann Landers or Dear Abby...I can't remember which, that etiquette is there to help society interact.

Most ladies like it when a man opens the door for them. We'll call that chivalry, but it falls under the etiquette umbrella nonetheless.

I teach my students to walk through an open door, but to put their arm on the handle to hold it open for the person behind them. Some children like to try to beat the closing door and dash inside, then the door slams into another person or closes in their face. We don't need a door man, but simply each holding it open for the person behind us.

Sometimes it seems our society or our generation has let etiquette go with the excuse of "This is who I am...deal with it."

People are perpetually late to a meeting or event with a predetermined start time. Or invite someone else without asking the host/hostess providing the meal. RSVPs don't seem to mean anything. One might say yes and then no show, say no and then come or simply never reply at all. Have you ever provided a meal for people and had unexpected guests? Or spent money and time only to have fewer people? It's frustrating, isn't it?

I realize this is a soapbox for me, and yes, I'll step off it now.

Oh wait...one last thing. I've also noticed that the person being affronted is frowned upon when reacting as if something is wrong. I don't understand that either.

Wrong book

2010-09-12T11:20:00.002-05:00

I just realized the textbook I have for my online class is the wrong one.

We didn't need it for our first assignment, so I haven't pulled it out until now.

I bought it from the campus bookstore...walked in, told them the two classes I was taking and she handed me two texts. I didn't pay attention to their titles, just paid for them and left.

Now, I'm hoping they'll take it back and give me the one I really need!

Sniff, Sniff...Mmmmm!

2010-09-11T15:23:00.002-05:00

After surgery this summer, I stumbled into bed and slept for a little over two hours. Mom was a gem and ran to Walgreens to pick up my prescriptions and Sam's for some food. When I woke up, I smelled something heavenly in the kitchen. She had brought home one of those ready-to-eat rotisserie chickens and was cooking some fresh green beans. I wasn't supposed to be eating much, but the medicine needed me to have something on my stomach heavier than applesauce.

My mouth began watering immediately upon inhaling...even as my eyes weren't quite open while walking down the hall towards the kitchen. I hadn't eaten anything in about 24 hours and the smell of that chicken...Mmmm! That chicken and green beans were wonderful!

I ended up having about three small meals in the span of about four hours...all consisting of chicken, green beans and applesauce. Maybe an interesting combination, but I still remember its yumminess!

Do you have a meal like that? I don't mean a holiday meal...we all have those. I mean a meal that you attach to a specific event and now that item seems to taste even better?

I bought a rotisserie chicken today at HEB. I put all my other groceries away, but couldn't resist slicing off a piece of golden brown deliciousness!

Seeing Stars

2010-09-03T08:57:00.003-05:00

I was getting in my car last night after leaving a restaurant. The large SUV next to me was pretty close. The driver was in it and the car was in reverse, but wasn't moving. The driver was chatting on the phone, but I wasn't sure how much time I had to get in the car or if I should wait. After realizing she wasn't moving, I decided to go for it.

It had been a long day at work and kind of a tiring week, so I was pretty weary. I'm not sure if that's the reason or if the closeness of the vehicle or my unusally high heels. Whatever the reason, I really whacked my head on the roof of my car as I was trying to get in. It is swollen and now 12 hours later, I still have a headache.

Say what I intend

2010-08-28T12:32:00.002-05:00

I have a group of friends that live all over the country. We try to get together once a year, but it doesn't always happen. Some of us are better about keeping up in between times than others, but everyone comes when we get together. At the end of each of our weekends, one of the girls always says, "I know I say this every time, but I really am going to try to be better at keeping in touch." We all know it's not going to happen, but everyone smiles and hugs and says good bye.

In Haiti, the missionary pastor led our devotions each evening. He asked us to use personal pronouns when we were sharing. Instead of saying, "We say yes, when we mean maybe" he challenged us to say, "I want to be a person of my word. I want to say yes and mean yes. I want to say no and mean no." Using personal pronouns encourages transparency and intimacy. I've really tried hard to do that over the past 6 weeks. When I typed this blog post title, I first typed "Say what we intend" then immediately went back to change it.

I have zero control over what others do.

I do have control over my actions and I can say what I mean. I can follow up on what I have promised. I can say no and not waffle later.

I am working to be better at that!

An Adult Topic...Budget

2010-08-03T17:09:00.002-05:00

My computer is old. Really old. Like probably 8 years old...maybe more. So it's slowly dying on me. I'd love for it to last another year, but just not sure if that is going to happen.

I'm planning to move next summer...and would love to buy a condo or townhouse when that happens...but that means a downpayment...and just not sure if that is going to happen.

I have one more semester of grad school...which means tuition. I'd like to do it without getting a loan, but just not sure if that is going to happen.

I had an unexpected expense come up. I mean...I knew the situation of the expense was there...but did not have any idea how much the expense was going to be. It's large...as in...Sigh

...Lord, sometimes I miss being a child and trusting Mom and Dad to figure out all the paperwork part of life.

So many thoughts...

2010-08-03T16:42:00.002-05:00

Summer seems to be a time that fills up quickly. It seems to be a pattern that I have about three days or so in which I do nothing but laundry and sleep and read FICTION that I get to choose! Then everything starts happening. This summer it was grad school and tutoring former students and preparing to leave the country and preparing to lead Vacation Bible School the day I came back into the country. (Yes, I said 'yes' to too much.) Then being out of the country and coming straight back to Vacation Bible School. The day VBS was over, I left for Plano. We had a great time, but were busy there as well. Mom took a few days off work and we ran all over Dallas looking for fabric for her to have some throw pillows and a shower curtain made. Her colors are hard to find and so it took some searching!

Angela came home with me and we had fun going to an Astros game and the zoo and just taking it easy around the house. Ang is very low key and enjoys 'sister time' no matter what we do!

She left Wednesday and I had a training Thursday and Friday. Yesterday and today have been busy filled with errands that need to get done before I go back to work on Monday and Mom comes in town tonight. We're planning to sew curtains and work in my classroom some.

Whew! Summer is busy!

Yet there is still time for thinking... thinking sometimes gets me in trouble. Does anybody else think that? (um, about your own thinking...not mine!)

Thinks I've thought

I wish I knew how to be a better friend.
I need to pray more often.
I need to spend more time in the Word.
I wish I ate healthier.
I wish I had people to cook for on a more regular basis.
It is REALLY hot in Houston.
People in Haiti need help. I wish I could do more. I feel bad that I'm not doing more. I feel selfish that I don't do more.
Sometimes reading fiction is not good for my heart.
Sometimes people ask me deep questions and I don't know what they mean or what they're asking and I feel bad that I'm not that deep.

Then I start to think how selfish I am that all those thoughts are all about me and my feelings and reactions to things...and the cycle starts all over again.

Lord, help me to be dependent on You and You alone. Help me to conform my thoughts to Your thoughts and my ways to Your ways.

Overhauled List

2010-08-03T15:35:00.000-05:00

Sooo....I'm yet again going to ignore that I've been an absentee blogger this summer. I'm just going to jump into the post.

My January List has actually made it waaaay longer than I thought it would. It needs some overhaul though. Some things don't need to be talked about for a year...so they're being taken off the list. Some things are on a back burner or...off the stove altogether, so they're being moved. That's what this post is for.

I realize this list is definitely for me...and that nobody else would have any reason to care about it...that's okay. I'll post other things soon. This is for me to be able to look back on things and use it kind of as an accountability.

Things I'm still interested in pursuing (or adding to the list):

Researching PhD programs
Cooking more regularly
Going to Chicago
Going on a cruise
Meet Angie Smith
Visit Crosspoint Church
Meet Brandi and Pete Wilson
Re-read the Proverbs 31 woman study...focus hard on the character traits the Lord leads me too
Go cash predominantly
Post more regularly
Spend quality time with the Lord more regularly.
Take more pictures of life as it happens!
Write my little Compassion boy more often.
Plan fun lessons on the SMART board for next year.
Have my neighbors over for dinner.

God's lesson

2010-07-25T23:06:00.002-05:00

A couple weeks ago I was very much aware of a lesson God was teaching me. Sometimes I feel like I'm not aware of His lessons or aware of them later than I should have been.

I was in a bit of a leadership role and things were pretty busy. Not chaotic, but busy. One lady was very smiley when we were face to face, but phone conversations and emails were another matter. She was very critical of the job being done...and not just my job, in fact, very little to do with anything I could control. Anyway, she would tirade, but then when we saw each other again, she was all smiles. It was odd. But that's a little beside the point. During that same week, I received some other news. Nothing that had anything to do with her or anything I was sharing publicly, but not news that was all warm and fuzzy.

It made me remember, I never have any idea what someone else is dealing with in their life. Maybe they're sharing it with others. Maybe they're not. Maybe I would be in that circle, maybe I wouldn't. It doesn't matter if it's the waitress at Chili's or a parent of a student or my neighbor or a close friend. The Lord was reminding me to treat others like I would want to be treated...ALL the time.

Haiti: Part I of...I'm not sure yet

2010-07-14T10:02:00.003-05:00

Most of you know I recently traveled to Haiti. This was a scouting trip of sorts to make plans for a full-on trip in March. MJ and I were VERY BLESSED to be able to take this trip. We have outlined a sketch of what the March trip will look like (construction and medical) and made lists of supplies that are needed and supplies to avoid.

Most of you that read my blog have probably already received the below in an email. Each day of the trip, we wrote a brief post of that day's events. When we travel in March, we will do the same thing. These posts can be found on the church's mission blog. www.houstonsfirst.org/missionsblog Over the next few days, I hope to compile more of an emotional reaction to the time in Haiti. This is more of the nuts and bolts of it all. Thank you for your patience as I process through the trip. Thank you for your prayers as we traveled!

I'm adding a few pictures throughout this post. They're not necessarily from that day or events, but they do represent Haiti.

A baby girl standing in the doorway of her one room house.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010
We had a bit of a delay in Houston and missed our connecting flight. It was the last flight to Fort Lauderdale of the night, but the Lord is full of provisions and we were rerouted to Miami! However, our bags did not make it. Thankfully, we had been instructed to pack our clothing in our carryons but the missing luggage included all the food and medical supplies we were bringing.
A short 20 minute drive to Fort Lauderdale, we fell into bed in the wee morning hours.

A couple of sweet boys that weren't quite sure how to respond to us.

Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Lord multiplied our sleep and we were able to arrive at the airport in the nick of time…literally! They closed the international flight check-in right after us (and we walked straight up the desk, past a REALLY LONG line of passengers!) We traveled through security quickly and met up with the Austin group of 12 at our gate. That flight went very smoothly and we’re in Haiti! The team and the family here at Haiti Bible Mission have all been so welcoming! We have already made friends, shared laughs and concerns with traversing a new country. MJ is the only one of the 14 of us that have ever been to Haiti before, so it is a new experience for us all!
We just ate a DELICIOUS dinner of rice with beef stew topping and plantains and petta. Absolutely yummy! Dave Stockeland, the HBM Director, led devotions this evening and asked us to ask ourselves questions when we’re reading God’s Word. “Is there a command I need to obey? Is there a promise I need to claim? Is there an example I need to follow? Is there an example I need to avoid? Does this show me something about the Lord? About myself?” These are questions we plan to ask ourselves in the coming days through our personal devotions.
Thank you for your prayers! Haiti does not participate in Daylight Savings Time, so we’re on the same time clock y’all are! It’s 7:30 right now and we’re planning to shower and go to bed!
=)
Alyssa and MJ

Isn't she precious! Lord, remind me to pray for these children!

Friday, July 9, 2010
We awoke this morning to roosters and the clicking of donkey hoofs outside our window (at 5:30am)! After a yummy breakfast of pancakes and pineapple, the men cut and removed nails from long pieces of wood. This wood later in the morning would be used to construct support for a tin roof at a gym that Mark Stockeland works out at–for $3 a month! This gym is more of a work out room, and the weights are recycled car parts (the bars were axles, the weights on either end are gears from big trucks). Construction at the gym attracted quite a crowd, but many of the onlookers jumped right in and helped us paint or nail the boards together. We returned to the mission house to eat lunch and sort the medical supplies the Austin team brought. Ours are sitting hopefully in Houston in our lost bags. This afternoon we drove about 45 min up to the mountains to the Stockeland's home church. The church is on the outskirts of a village nestled in the woods. Beyond the woods is a river. Near the river bank, there is a huge soccer field. Mark had arranged a soccer game with the teenage boys of the village to play against our team, along with the boys that live on the compound with the Stockeland family. Both teams played a great game! There was a convention going on at the church tonight, and will continue with 4 services tomorrow, and ending on Sunday morning. We were able to meet and pray for the pastor of the church, Pastor Eric, after the service tonight. He was so excited to stand next to MJ because finally he was taller than someone!!!! It was such a blessing to be able to pray over Pastor Eric. The precious Haitian girls prepared another wonderful dinner. We’re LOVING the native food! Pastor Dave leads devotions each night and asked specifically that any who share would use the pronouns ‘I and me,” making it more meaningful…more personal. Stop and think: When you hear someone sharing what the Lord has taught you, and they use “we” or “they” it doesn’t mean as much as when they use “I” and “me.” Something to change in our own conversations.
The Austin group is heading to another camp tomorrow where they will spend the night. We will stay here in town before leaving Sunday morning.
We appreciate all prayers! Love you all!
MJ and Alyssa

There was an Auburn fan or two on our team, so this one made several people smile.

Saturday, July 10, 2010
Today has been a fun day beginning with taxi rides on ‘motos’ to the market! We walked around fresh fruit, vegetables, fish markets and butcher shops. A very interesting and awesome experience! The fresher the meat, the more flies. Yumm! It was great to see Mark interact with his valued sellers. He explained that he does shop at various vendors at times to share the wealth, but really tries to be loyal to a few, specifically some that are believers knowing they can support their families and further the Kingdom.
From the market, we traveled back to yesterday’s construction site and continued our work on the roof and painting the posts. We finished that project when we ran out of supplies…a few more sheets of tin are needed and Mark will handle that in the coming days.
MJ and Alyssa were able to talk to Mark and Dave about plans for a group’s trip in March and we are excited about our preparations. We look forward to helping to build a refugee house as well as set up a medical clinic in the same area as the construction workers. Lacey (Mark’s wife) said the construction will bring the people and then the clinic can help them!
This afternoon the rest of the Austin team left for an overnight trip to a village that is a 2 hour drive and a 1 1/2 hour hike. MJ and Alyssa stayed at the Stockeland’s house due to our early morning flight. We weatherproofed the metal gates to their garage and then helped Lacey with dinner.
We look forward to the upcoming months of planning and praying over our trip and the team that God already has in place.
Please pray for us as we travel tomorrow, in Haiti, by ourselves. The system the Stockeland’s have in place is very good, but we are still new to this!
Love you all and will talk to you when we arrive in Miami, approximately 7:00pm.
Alyssa and MJ

This is the airport in Jeremie!