So last week was crazy. I found it really hard to think beyond the stress of the season. I know that I still did small kind things and I have continued to pick up random piles of dog poop, but overall I was not as able to think of others. This saddens me not only because of this project, but also because of this season. This season of giving and love. The ultimate gift God gave to the world and we are consumed by the "responsibilities" we or society have placed upon ourselves during this season. When I was asked to give extra at random grocery stores or other outlets, I felt ashamed that I was not able to. I have been overwhelmed with the stress of this expensive season.
Then during this week, the final week of school for the year, I was ashamed instead of grateful when I received presents from coworkers. Ashamed that I was not able to reciprocate. For me, being a gifts love language person, I felt as if I was letting those that I care about most down. I am surrounded, at work, by people that truly care for me. I know. And I am so grateful for this and I couldn't show them.
In tonight's Christmas Eve sermon, the pastor spoke about which role do you most associate with from the Christmas story. The role of Mary- I understand what you need of me and I am willing. The role of Caesar Augustus- making a list and checking it twice but selfishly- making sure the taxes' collected were all that he deserved. The role of Joseph- a man of God- engaged to a virgin- who just so happens to be pregnant but it's God's baby. Even if you truly believe- as he did- and continued to play the role he was assigned- people would talk and he was stressed but stayed the course because that was what was expected of him. Finally, the role of the shepherds- who had to hear the news and see the child in order to fully believe. Where are you in this story? I feel like Joseph. I can name that God is present in my life and the gifts that he has given me- but still I carry the stress and therefore am moving forward through life. I need to learn to give it truly to Him and let God.
Why did I divert my thoughts to the sermon? Because if I truly think about these weeks- everyday there was a moment that I reached out to others. Every. Day. But because of the stress I put on myself- I was not able to enjoy those random acts. They were small, but they counted.
So I come to this... last night I enjoyed an evening with some friends. We went out and I got home around midnight. As I was entering my apartment area, a strange dog came out of nowhere. He almost head butted my leg in happiness to see someone. He was sweet and well mannered and there was no one else around. It was 25 degrees out and midnight- what was I to do? I brought him home. I had to keep my Lucy in her kennel all night and Cat tried to take off two of my toes in fright (I have three nice claw marks across my foot), but I helped a dog.
This morning, I took the dog down to the office and not 2 minutes after I left, I got a call from the owner. He had been up searching for hours. But his dog was safe and returned to him. He said I made his day.
One big act in the last two weeks, but I am ok with that. God has done a million small things for me during that time and I am grateful for each one. Listen to the small acts- for they can speak just as loudly.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Another week
As I continue to work with my students on this kindness project- I found it more difficult to reach out my kindness myself this week. I smiled at random people. I offered sincere compliments. I bought a toy for a Christmas present drive. But this week I wasn't feeling well- physically and mentally and it effected this project. I didn't intentionally reach out to anyone.
I did receive several kind emails this week. One from a co-worker to whom I gifted a small plant. She stated that she smiles and remembers that small act of kindness often.
I also checked in with my mom on my dad's birthday. I knew that I was remembering him often that day and only could assume how much she was missing him too. She was very pleased that I reached out. She also emailed me letting me know that I would receive a smaller Christmas present that I was used to- I answered with grace- letting her know that anything she sent was appreciated. ❤
I hope the Lord helps me to be more generous in spirit this week as we are directed by His words to spread His love through the world.
I did receive several kind emails this week. One from a co-worker to whom I gifted a small plant. She stated that she smiles and remembers that small act of kindness often.
I also checked in with my mom on my dad's birthday. I knew that I was remembering him often that day and only could assume how much she was missing him too. She was very pleased that I reached out. She also emailed me letting me know that I would receive a smaller Christmas present that I was used to- I answered with grace- letting her know that anything she sent was appreciated. ❤
I hope the Lord helps me to be more generous in spirit this week as we are directed by His words to spread His love through the world.
Friday, December 1, 2017
Feeling happy
It's so funny to me, as I walked through this week thinking about kindness, how simple being kind is. Why doesn't it happen more often? How did we become a society that thinks of self first? I'm sure it's a sad story- and one I am not really interested in reading. We can turn this around people.
This week I found myself annoyed at my neighbors. I live in an apartment complex and have been here for a while. I have never seen as much dog waste laying in the grass as I have in the last few months. We even have TWO dog parks and dog waste stations all through the property. I decided, this week, that as I walk my own dog and grab her waste, that I will also grab at least one other pile. Now I know that this probably doesn't effect anyone but me- but it does make me feel better. One less ugly thing in the world.
Also this week I started a kindness program in my classroom. I created a "coupon book" of ideas for kindness. The first week we are focused on being kind to ourselves. Week two is showing kindness to our peers. The third week is kindness to the adults in our lives (this is for 8-9 year olds). The last week shows kindness to our community. Each week the students have 20 activity choices to choose from and they only have to do one, but they can do as many as they would like. I had one student turn in 8 coupons for this week! I can't wait to see how this progresses.
Finally, today is Friday and we are all grateful to see the Fridays of our lives. I made sure my partner teacher and TA knew that I appreciated them this morning. I regularly stop at Sonic in the morning- but today- I stopped at Starbucks and picked up their favorites. Then later on at lunch, I invited another partner teacher to lunch with me and we picked up a Starbucks order for another co-worker and a large lemonade for yet another. In total, I touched at least 5 other teachers/staff at work today. These small things DO add up for others. All it takes is a moment.
This week I found myself annoyed at my neighbors. I live in an apartment complex and have been here for a while. I have never seen as much dog waste laying in the grass as I have in the last few months. We even have TWO dog parks and dog waste stations all through the property. I decided, this week, that as I walk my own dog and grab her waste, that I will also grab at least one other pile. Now I know that this probably doesn't effect anyone but me- but it does make me feel better. One less ugly thing in the world.
Also this week I started a kindness program in my classroom. I created a "coupon book" of ideas for kindness. The first week we are focused on being kind to ourselves. Week two is showing kindness to our peers. The third week is kindness to the adults in our lives (this is for 8-9 year olds). The last week shows kindness to our community. Each week the students have 20 activity choices to choose from and they only have to do one, but they can do as many as they would like. I had one student turn in 8 coupons for this week! I can't wait to see how this progresses.
Finally, today is Friday and we are all grateful to see the Fridays of our lives. I made sure my partner teacher and TA knew that I appreciated them this morning. I regularly stop at Sonic in the morning- but today- I stopped at Starbucks and picked up their favorites. Then later on at lunch, I invited another partner teacher to lunch with me and we picked up a Starbucks order for another co-worker and a large lemonade for yet another. In total, I touched at least 5 other teachers/staff at work today. These small things DO add up for others. All it takes is a moment.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Another day
I had a weird dream last night. It had lots of players in my life but one take away was that my fab TA Sammie was taken away from me and Natalie because she was "too good at her job". When I woke up, I texted Sammie and told her. She needs to know how important she is to 3rd grade :)
Friday, November 24, 2017
52 Weeks of Making an Impact
Since it has been five years since I blogged on this page, I am assuming that no one checks it any more. But even if you do happen to check in on me, nothing is a secret. Actually I am hoping it is not even close to a secret by this time next year. This is my way of holding myself accountable AND keeping a record in order to see if I see a difference. Not only in me, but in the world around me. Can one person truly ignite a change? My friend thinks so, and her book has inspired me. "Screw the BS and Ignite Your Impact" by Erin M Addesso.
click here
I started reading this when I was traveling to visit my mom for Thanksgiving break. I didn't want to put the book down. I always say that there is a positive and negative to everything in life, and Erin believes so too. When you can choose to find the good, it makes a change in you and you can spread that change to others. She talks about how if you choose to go out of your way, even with just a smile, you never know how it will impact their day and perhaps you may inspire them to impact someone else.
When I was headed home from the visit, I had my first opportunity to make a change. I was driving in a rental car on the state highways of Pennsylvania. These roads are two lanes and travel through the beautiful hillside showing the Amish farms and quiet life of rural Pennsylvania. I stopped at a light and then was rear ended by a younger girl in her mom's car. She was so upset and ashamed. She couldn't even look at me. After making sure everyone else was OK, I turned to her again and asked her if she was OK. She just kept saying "I am so sorry." I put my hand on her shoulder and said, "I'm not mad at you. Accidents happen."
"What if you miss your flight?"
"Then I miss my flight. It's not that big of a deal."
I left there after the police finished and sure enough, I had missed my flight. My daughter and I spent the night in the Philly airport. I was never upset about it and just rolled with the punches. We made the first flight to Denver in the morning and were tired, but no worse for the delay. The nicest part? Not getting upset over something that could have been very nerve-wreaking actually helped me and Avery turn it into an adventure instead. I hope that the girl found some comfort in my reaction, but I will never know.
Today I had another chance. During Thanksgiving break, my son always has a hockey tournament. Five full days of hockey with at least one and sometimes two games a day. This morning they were playing Team Wyoming. There was a cute little boy, maybe 4 years old, near me. He was trying to keep busy playing with a pen. He was pretending it was a car, then a plane, etc. just buzzing his time away while his sibling played hockey. I remembered that I had two Lego people in my purse. I thought about giving them to the boy to play with, but hesitated for some reason. Then he looked up at me and said with the bluest eyes and dimpled smile, "I play hockey."
"And I bet you are really good, too." I replied.
"Yep." Then he went to play behind me. A few minutes later he was searching through his mom's purse for something else to do. I leaned over and said, "Do you know what I have?"
"What?"
"I have these guys and they want to play. Would you like to play with them?"
His eyes lit up and he nodded. He walked back over to his sister and mom and both were visibly upset. "Where did you get those?"
I smiled and said, "From me. I keep them in my purse."
The boy and his sister went on to play with them for the rest of the game. He kept coming over to me and asking me questions about them- some things I understand and others I didn't. But it didn't matter, his smile and play said enough to me. At the end of the game I told him that he could keep them. It was totally worth it to make his day and probably his mom's day too."
click here
I started reading this when I was traveling to visit my mom for Thanksgiving break. I didn't want to put the book down. I always say that there is a positive and negative to everything in life, and Erin believes so too. When you can choose to find the good, it makes a change in you and you can spread that change to others. She talks about how if you choose to go out of your way, even with just a smile, you never know how it will impact their day and perhaps you may inspire them to impact someone else.
When I was headed home from the visit, I had my first opportunity to make a change. I was driving in a rental car on the state highways of Pennsylvania. These roads are two lanes and travel through the beautiful hillside showing the Amish farms and quiet life of rural Pennsylvania. I stopped at a light and then was rear ended by a younger girl in her mom's car. She was so upset and ashamed. She couldn't even look at me. After making sure everyone else was OK, I turned to her again and asked her if she was OK. She just kept saying "I am so sorry." I put my hand on her shoulder and said, "I'm not mad at you. Accidents happen."
"What if you miss your flight?"
"Then I miss my flight. It's not that big of a deal."
I left there after the police finished and sure enough, I had missed my flight. My daughter and I spent the night in the Philly airport. I was never upset about it and just rolled with the punches. We made the first flight to Denver in the morning and were tired, but no worse for the delay. The nicest part? Not getting upset over something that could have been very nerve-wreaking actually helped me and Avery turn it into an adventure instead. I hope that the girl found some comfort in my reaction, but I will never know.
Today I had another chance. During Thanksgiving break, my son always has a hockey tournament. Five full days of hockey with at least one and sometimes two games a day. This morning they were playing Team Wyoming. There was a cute little boy, maybe 4 years old, near me. He was trying to keep busy playing with a pen. He was pretending it was a car, then a plane, etc. just buzzing his time away while his sibling played hockey. I remembered that I had two Lego people in my purse. I thought about giving them to the boy to play with, but hesitated for some reason. Then he looked up at me and said with the bluest eyes and dimpled smile, "I play hockey."
"And I bet you are really good, too." I replied.
"Yep." Then he went to play behind me. A few minutes later he was searching through his mom's purse for something else to do. I leaned over and said, "Do you know what I have?"
"What?"
"I have these guys and they want to play. Would you like to play with them?"
His eyes lit up and he nodded. He walked back over to his sister and mom and both were visibly upset. "Where did you get those?"
I smiled and said, "From me. I keep them in my purse."
The boy and his sister went on to play with them for the rest of the game. He kept coming over to me and asking me questions about them- some things I understand and others I didn't. But it didn't matter, his smile and play said enough to me. At the end of the game I told him that he could keep them. It was totally worth it to make his day and probably his mom's day too."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Bailey- National Youth Scholar!
Bailey spent the week at DU last week pretending to be a college student. She worked hard on the science program- CSI. She was able to analyse all the data/clues from the missing vase case. Using blood splatter analysis, DNA analysis, hand writing analysis, clues from broken glass, tool marks and paint chips, shoe prints, and animal hair, Bailey was able to create a pretty solid case against one of the suspects. She had a fabulous time!!!
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