I am still enjoying teaching and getting to know the students. (Gift #715) I've also been substitute teaching in the mornings before my class about once a week, so I am becoming more familiar with the rhetoric school in general and meeting more students. So far, I've subbed for Greek 1 & 2, European Literature, and Classical Literature, and I am scheduled to sub for Pre-Calculus and Calculus, so I feel like I should be earning another degree in the process.
One of my goals is to go see every student participate in his/her sport, fine art, or other area of giftedness. This week, I attended my first ever varsity volleyball game to see one of my students play. The opponent was a private school from my hometown where one of my closest childhood friends teaches and where many of my home town friends' kids attend. So who do you pull for when your kids' school plays your home town? Go Knights!
I continue to be impressed with my students. The ladies work really hard. Many of them had joined the class expecting it to be the "slow" math class students take in lieu of Calculus and were not happy when 12 of the brightest math students in the school transferred into the class after deciding to take both Calculus and Statistics. At first they were intimidated, but now they are speaking up as much as anyone and showing confidence stemming from mastery of the subject. (Gift #717) I'm so proud of them!
The gentleman (they aren't just "guys" or "dudes", for these male students are true gentlemen) in the class are always so kind to me, offering to help carry some of my bags to class most days. I borrow a classroom at the school and have no office, so I must lug texts and supplies for 4 subjects (I tutor trig, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2 after my stats class), computer equipment, purse, and bagged lunch to school, so I need either a luggage dolly or all the manly help I can get. I had my first observation last week, and when they saw the principal walk into the classroom to observe me, they snapped into the school's militaristic postures (which I do not enforce every day because I did not get the adult sized tables and chairs for the classroom that I wanted, and these tall and lanky seniors must squeeze into middle schooler sized desks) and into full attention at once. They made every effort to participate, standing when answering or asking questions, and doing their best to show how much they have learned. (Gift #718) After school that day, one student made the effort to come find me and encourage me, assuring me that I did a great job teaching that day. Who does that these days? He wasn't sucking up, for he already has a A+ average and needs no favors. I wish I could adopt the boys in my class or at least make one my son-in-law. :-) Just when I was convinced liberal feminism had completely removed all chivalry and masculinity from the younger generations, I encounter these fine strong men who are rugged and handsome, brave and honest, respectful and kind, smart and full of faith. (Gift #719) Jesus Christ in the heart of a student truly makes all the difference. I am so refreshed at that school. As long as I am in that bubble, I have renewed hope for the future of America. (Gift #720)
All this praise does not suggest that the students have not tried to test me. The project proposals some of them submitted were sub-par, and I let them know I had discussed their proposals with their English teacher for whom they would never submit such lame work. They must have been thinking that this is a math class where grammar and professionalism do not count. After clarifying my expectations, however, they blew me away with their projects. (Gift #721) They put in the effort and began treating this class as if they were executives for a Fortune 500 company.
Teaching is given me a stronger sense of purpose (Gift #722) and some of the community I craved as a stay-at-home mom. (Gift #723) I'm still working on finding the right balance, but I feel so blessed to be there. After having worked for salaries 10x higher, I am doing my best to remember that I am called to this career as ministry, not for income. After all, the job offer was not worded as a job offer at all. It was termed a "ministry offer", for we will never be truly effective if we view it only as a job. God has provided all our family really needs through my husband's job (Gift #724), but the world tries to convince us that our worth is a reflection of our income. God will never ask me how much money I made, for He is more interested in how I am using what He has provided to invest in eternity, and those students' souls are eternal. Dear Lord, please guide my every effort and please bring fruit out of my labor that lasts forever.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
My dear husband, observing his wife pouring over math problems today, asked, "Are you a teacher or a student?" He smiled as he knew my answer would be a truth everyone, regardless of profession, must eventually realize, "Always both!" Daily I am reminded of how much I still need to learn and how I am teaching others unaware through my words and actions, be they careless or thoughtful.
School Pictures
While I was enjoying looking at all my friends' back-to-school pics on Facebook, our school, which started the year a few weeks earlier on a modified year-round-schedule, has already returned school picture prints. When I opened the envelope, I gasped in surprise and proclaimed, "Oh my! I look like a 40-something teacher. How can that be?" And my blunt husband reminded me that I am a 40-something teacher. There's nothing quite like a photograph to burst your bubble with a dose of reality. But I still feel so young at heart! These photographers move quickly and only give you one shot, so I think she snapped the photo before I had finished transitioning into a full smile. Perhaps that is why my smile looks odd. The kids' pics were not overly flattering either, especially compared to last year's school photos. Of course, what camera can truly capture all the beauty I see in them anyway?
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| 2nd Grade |
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| 5th Grade |
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| 40ish Statistics Teacher |
Senior Service Practicum
I love the missions mindedness of our school. (Gift #725) Seniors take an elective missions course their first semester called "Senior Service Practicum" and some Spanish classes before traveling to Costa Rica in November for service and ministry. The students take 55 extra pieces of luggage which we fill with gifts for the children they will be serving. Our daughter and two other school friends got together and made 53 sock dolls for the children our seniors will be serving. Some were really cute. Others were quite strange and reminded my husband of voodoo dolls. We hope the gift will convey a more positive message than voodoo. My daughter attempted to make a horse doll, but it looked more like a caterpillar (legs too short and too many legs - ha ha). She begged me to make a doll with her, so despite my ineptitude and fear of all things crafty, I finally made a pathetic looking doll. She's finding that teaching me anything crafty is like trying to teach a walrus to play the piano. But she thanked me profusely, and I was reminded once again how important it is to carve out time to do what she wants to do with her. (Gift #726) It only takes a few minutes to make a huge impact. Why do I fail to do this simple thing so often when it makes such a difference?
Princess Kiss Bible Study
One of my favorite new things for my daughter and me this year is our mother/daughter Bible study group with other girls from our school and their moms. (Gift #727) This "coming of age" study group is a 2-year commitment to help guide our precious girls in and through adolescence God's way. We are using The Princess and the Kiss study guide to direct us. We meet once or twice a month in group members' homes for food, fellowship, crafts, prayer, and Bible study. Our first kick-off meeting was held this month. I am so excited for this opportunity to invest into my daughter's heart and into our relationship, and we both love the potential for developing life long friendships with the other girls and moms in the group.
She Misses Muffin
With school and gymnastics, our daughter has to spend 13-14 hours a day away from her beloved bunny several times a week. As soon as she comes home from gymnastics each night, she rushes into the "bunny playground" for bunny cuddles.
My daughter continues to amuse us with her dramatics. Last month, I noticed that she had either matured or was taking a more passive aggressive approach with her "keep out" signs for her door. Apparently, that approach did not work because I saw a new sign this month written in angry font with poor handwriting and misspellings indicating that she was quite upset when she wrote it. PSA: Always knock before entering the actress' dressing room!
7-year-old: "Mom, would you rather live knowing that someday there will be no more death, crying or pain, or would you prefer not knowing that some day it will be that way?"
Me: "You tell me first. Which would you prefer?"
7-year-old: "Oh I definitely prefer living with that hope and assurance."
Me: "Then tell others how they can receive that promise and live with that wonderful guarantee as well."
What my little one taught me that night night: Too often adults underestimate the depths of a child's thoughts. God works through children to give us eternal perspective and/or propel us to action when needed. (Gift #728)
"‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” - Revelation 21:4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My son has been wanting a lava lamp for his room, but when we went to the store, they only had pink and purple ones, not manly colors to match his room. So, of course, his sister then begged for one, and I braced myself for the bickering that would ensue at the mere mention of her getting what he had been wanting. But instead, my thoughtful boy said, "The package says that the lamp soothes, unwinds, calms and relaxes, so I think you should buy her one to help her with her temper." If the lamp can do that, then I'm buying one for every room in the house! His peacemaker mentality is a gift in our home! (Gift #729)
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The advantage of having an inquisitive child is that he figures out how to make a lot of cool things all by himself (programming robots at age 4, fixing things that break in the house, and so forth) which has kept him occupied while I would be homeschooling his sister or working from home. The disadvantage is the destruction he leaves behind. During a 60 second stroll outside one evening, he realized he could make perfume out of pressed flower petals, so now he wants to decapitate all our lovely flowers to make perfume he plans to sell. Some wish money grew on trees while is is scheming ways to make money from my plants.
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When we were homeschooling, our passionate child delivered many theatrical performances over the devastating cruelty of being made to do school work before she could go outside and play. She's motivated by being around other people, so she rarely ever gave me her very best effort at home. When we sent her to school instead of homeschooling, she was surrounded by lots of new friends and worked much harder doing what she called "easier" work, but she wailed and moaned dramatically about the "picky" grading so much that she stopped caring about her grades at all choosing instead to care more about her friends and how she could encourage them in their academic pursuits. This year, she has even more new friends and is trained to always give her best so that school work no longer feels like drudgery, but this evening she wailed, moaned, lamented and collapsed onto the floor because.....wait for it... she made a 97 on a test when her goal was apparently to only make 100s. You can take a drama queen out of any given situation, but I'm not sure you can take the drama out of our princess. She really does love her school, but our dear child is clearly born for the stage.
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This drama queen believes in prayer, though and now more than ever. She was dreading a somewhat painful dental procedure scheduled for this afternoon, so she prayed this morning and on the way to the dental office after school for God to be with her and to help her get through the procedure or (better yet in her mind) that He would remove her from the trial completely. The pediatric dentist working that day was different from the one who prescribed the treatment, and before I had a chance to ask but after she had a chance to reevaluate my daughter's teeth, she had the integrity to admit that the procedure was not necessary. Trial eliminated! Not only did this caring dentist do what was right in God's sight, but God used her to strengthen my daughter's faith! (Gift #730)
Another 40-Year Birthday Party?
In the past few weeks, I have been to three 40th birthday parties. Two were successful surprise parties. This past week, we celebrated the birthday of one of my closest friends since the year my husband and I got engaged. Our crazy small group ladies met for dinner at a Mexican restaurant where she got serenaded and embarrassed. We laughed and reminisced and had a great time. After the dinner, the dear birthday girl sat in my car in the parking lot as we talked life for hours. It was her birthday, but taking the time to share with me was a present to me. (Gift #731) How I cherish her friendship! God is going to be using that family of hers mightily over the next 40 years! I can see it unfolding already!
After dinner, all the families took over the adjoining swim club. Last year, I traveled back in time in my mind and played like an 8-year old on the diving board turning every flip and diving stunt I knew. I also ended up having to see a doctor later that week for swimmer's ear, so I stayed dry this time. I also wanted to keep my attention on watching my two kids since my husband wasn't there to help. My daughter, the gymnast, filled in the gap for me on the diving board, however, with all sorts of impressive flips and spins.
Thoughts About Life
One
of my favorite aspects of our new residence has been how quickly I can
bike to the lake via the wooded asphalt trail that runs along the river
behind our neighborhood. However, I have not been able to bike those
trails for the past few weeks because
the creek flooded resulting in the destruction of much of the greenway.
Large sections were missing, while other sections had been pushed up
into sharp ridges. As I pondered the irony of how something so
beautiful, refreshing, and absolutely essential to life as water could
rip through asphalt so powerfully, I considered how many other
wonderful, life sustaining or life enhancing factors (food, self
confidence, money, power, relationships, medicine, sex, etc.) can also
cause tremendous damage when allowed to cross their God given
boundaries. (Jeremiah 5:22, Psalm 74:17) Oh that our generation and
those that come after us would learn to respect and appreciate those
established limits which are always for our greater good. With sufficient resources, our town
did repair/repave the trail I love so much (Gift #733), but the damage created when
we willfully exceed boundaries in other areas cannot be undone...at
least not without the precious blood of the Son. A few pics of the lake taken with my low budget Android phone from my bike are shown below.
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| This last pic is for my husband (note the sailboat) and the kids who like ducks. |
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