This week was the first week I could get into my classroom to start moving and unpacking. I started Tuesday, full of excitement to make this kindergarten room "mine." As I stood in the room, taking it all in, I was overwhelmed by the stuff left behind by the previous teacher. She retired and left so much, I've spent all week cleaning it out to have a place for my things. I'm exhausted, and still haven't started unpacking my boxes. I know I still have time, but I'd like to have the physical labor (furniture moved and boxes put away) done by the time in-service starts. Nobody wants to be sweaty during those in-service days...
During this mad rush to get ready for school, I have had so much support from my co-workers and friends. My classroom assistant, who only has to work on days with students in the building, offered to come in and help me yesterday. I am so thankful she did because we got so much accomplished. I know she didn't have to, but it was extremely kind and helpful. Today, a dear friend is coming to help me "take care" of an aquarium situation. Dead snails in stagnant water are not an appropriate way to start the year and welcome kindergartners. These are my noted acts of kindness for the week, and they are very much appreciated.
In the meantime, my source of humor the past few days has been the Target back to school commercials. My favorite is the music teacher singing about back to school supplies... if you haven't seen it, please watch (http://youtu.be/BNDfreK0Yno). It'll make you smile despite any back-to-school blues.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Family
We returned about a week ago from our trip to Folly Beach with our friends. During the time we were gone and since we’ve returned, I’ve thought a lot about the kindness and love that exists among my family and my friends. I consider myself quite lucky to belong to such loving bunches.
Before we left, I spent some time visiting with my mom and her parents. I don’t spend as much time as I should with my grandparents, and I wanted to visit with them before leaving town. It’s always interesting for me to sit down “catch up” with them about life's happenings…. They always ask for details on my job, my husband, the house, etc. Their questions and interest in my life give me a sense of comfort knowing how much they care.
While we were gone, our family was extremely helpful in taking care of little things for us. My mother-in-law kept Crazy Dog, also known as Madi. She and her husband are the only ones Madi can stay with because she is… well, crazy. Caring for this “special” dog is not an easy task, especially when my in-laws already have so much on their plates. My dad was enormous help, too. He took care of my baby schnauzer, Riley, and he got our mail and watered the garden. If we didn’t have the loving support and kindness of our families, our dogs would have been miserable in a kennel all week and our garden would surely have withered.
I also can’t help but mention the fabulous time we had at Folly Beach this year. Despite the tiny little place where we stayed, full of those lovely low-country creatures we call Palmetto Bugs (which, in actuality, are huge cockroaches), we enjoyed our time with our “second family.” With our group of close friends, I think we could have fun just about anywhere…so this jungle-surrounded, basement-esque home was no match for our spirits. Our days were spent lazily on the beach; our evenings full of delicious seafood dinners and cards.
Returning home from the beach is never pleasant, but I did miss home. I also returned to a lovely surprise from my husband and his dad. For my birthday, they ordered a new dining room table for our currently empty dining room. Scheduled for delivery tomorrow, it will be here just in time to host a baby shower for my brother-in-law and his wife, who are expecting twin boys in August. I need to get busy on that to-do list….
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Superior Customer Service
Although it's quite early according to my teacher's summer watch, I couldn't sleep. I've been up since 4:00 making mental to-do lists to get ready for vacation. Finally, around 5:20, I gave up trying to count sheep and lugged myself to the couch where I watched Julie & Julia. This movie obviously inspired me to get off the couch, cook breakfast, and write.
Last week, my search for kindness was chaotic yet simple. Monday morning, I had several appointments early and rushed around to get to them on time. In between appointments, I made a quick stop at the grocery store for the week's necessities. I used the self-check because, for some odd reason, it made me feel more efficient. After scanning and bagging my items, it was time to pay. Debit card is missing! Sheer panic sets in as I start to imagine some thief with my money running off to Mexico. (Teachers only get paid once in the summer, and our checks had just been deposited... we get two months of pay in one big lump sum... see where this is going...??? PANIC!)
I frantically searched my wallet, twice, and my purse, twice. Still no card. As calmly as possible, I write a check for my groceries and then race to my car to search there. No card. Now, remember, this in between appointments, and I have about 45 minutes to make it home, put groceries up, and get to the dentist. AND FIND MY DEBIT CARD! I turn our house upside down, and still... no card. At the last possible minute, I get in my car and head to the dentist, calling the bank on my way. The lady on the phone was not as helpful or compassionate as I really wanted her to be, but she told me to come in and fill out the paper work to cancel the card. Exactly what I'll do, after my dentist appointment...
Which was fabulous! I absolutely love my dentist's office. They are always on schedule, I never have to wait, and the people who work there are so friendly. My A+ on dental hygiene and their super service helped calmed my nerves about my bank account for a while.
When I left the dentist, I went to one my bank's branches to fill out the paper work to cancel the lost card and order a new one. The teller that helped me was amazing! I think all I really wanted at the time was someone to say, "Oh, bless your heart!" in a fantastic southern accent, to make me feel better about it... and she did. She filed my paper work and within 15 minutes, I was out the door and feeling relieved.
I don't think I could ever make it in a job like these, either a dental hygienist or a bank teller, dealing with adults all day. I do not have the patience or kindness to pleasantly work with grown ups (like me, who are all flustered about something when they come through the door). This is one of the reasons I chose to work with kids... I can be patient with them because they're little, but that's a different story for another day.
It takes a genuinely kind person to work with the public all day with a smile. Those ladies may not know it, but they gave me a sense of comfort I desperately needed that day.
On a lighter note, I later found my debit card when my husband and I climbed into the Jeep to go out for dinner. I saw it wedged between the passenger seat and the arm rest, but I left it there to shred later... without him knowing. I felt too stupid to admit I'd found it right there in the car. If you see him, don't tell him.
Last week, my search for kindness was chaotic yet simple. Monday morning, I had several appointments early and rushed around to get to them on time. In between appointments, I made a quick stop at the grocery store for the week's necessities. I used the self-check because, for some odd reason, it made me feel more efficient. After scanning and bagging my items, it was time to pay. Debit card is missing! Sheer panic sets in as I start to imagine some thief with my money running off to Mexico. (Teachers only get paid once in the summer, and our checks had just been deposited... we get two months of pay in one big lump sum... see where this is going...??? PANIC!)
I frantically searched my wallet, twice, and my purse, twice. Still no card. As calmly as possible, I write a check for my groceries and then race to my car to search there. No card. Now, remember, this in between appointments, and I have about 45 minutes to make it home, put groceries up, and get to the dentist. AND FIND MY DEBIT CARD! I turn our house upside down, and still... no card. At the last possible minute, I get in my car and head to the dentist, calling the bank on my way. The lady on the phone was not as helpful or compassionate as I really wanted her to be, but she told me to come in and fill out the paper work to cancel the card. Exactly what I'll do, after my dentist appointment...
Which was fabulous! I absolutely love my dentist's office. They are always on schedule, I never have to wait, and the people who work there are so friendly. My A+ on dental hygiene and their super service helped calmed my nerves about my bank account for a while.
When I left the dentist, I went to one my bank's branches to fill out the paper work to cancel the lost card and order a new one. The teller that helped me was amazing! I think all I really wanted at the time was someone to say, "Oh, bless your heart!" in a fantastic southern accent, to make me feel better about it... and she did. She filed my paper work and within 15 minutes, I was out the door and feeling relieved.
I don't think I could ever make it in a job like these, either a dental hygienist or a bank teller, dealing with adults all day. I do not have the patience or kindness to pleasantly work with grown ups (like me, who are all flustered about something when they come through the door). This is one of the reasons I chose to work with kids... I can be patient with them because they're little, but that's a different story for another day.
It takes a genuinely kind person to work with the public all day with a smile. Those ladies may not know it, but they gave me a sense of comfort I desperately needed that day.
On a lighter note, I later found my debit card when my husband and I climbed into the Jeep to go out for dinner. I saw it wedged between the passenger seat and the arm rest, but I left it there to shred later... without him knowing. I felt too stupid to admit I'd found it right there in the car. If you see him, don't tell him.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Love is in the air...
Everywhere I look around...
Cheesy title? Maybe. Appropriate? Definitely.
This blog entry is quite different from what I typically write... a little more loving & not so much sarcasm. Seriously. Hope you enjoy...
In my search for thoughtfulness or kindness in the last week or two, I've been astounded by the amount of love I've witnessed. In two weeks time, I've attended two weddings. As different as they were, I was truly moved by the amount of love in them both. One weekend, the first gay wedding I've ever attended. The next, my big cousin tied the knot. Both overflowing with love.
(Be forewarned, I'm not interested in political or religious debate.... I'm just sharing my honest, first-hand experience here.) I was anxious about attending the first wedding because I was unsure of what to expect. I mean, I had never been to a union ceremony, so I kept thinking to myself ... "Will there be bridesmaids? Groomsmen? Who walks them down the aisle?"... (Needless to say, I stressed about what to wear for days because I knew I'd be facing tough critics in this crowd.) Once we arrived at the ceremony location, I felt a sense of relief. My friends and I were seated, and I immediately noticed the amount of love in the room. All of my anxieties, or questions, disappeared. I witnessed so much joy, love and happiness in that place... I honestly thought the windows would bust.
The second wedding a week later was also filled with love and happiness. The bride was beautiful and beaming with happiness, and the groom grinned from ear to ear watching her walk down the aisle. Their honest love for each other made my heart smile. The wedding and reception gave our families time to be together and to celebrate, which is always special in itself.
My experiences over the past two weeks have reminded me of how grateful I am for love... from my husband, my family, and my Heavenly Father. These experiences have also inspired me to show love to those around me.
1 Corinthians 13:13 - "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Cheesy title? Maybe. Appropriate? Definitely.
This blog entry is quite different from what I typically write... a little more loving & not so much sarcasm. Seriously. Hope you enjoy...
In my search for thoughtfulness or kindness in the last week or two, I've been astounded by the amount of love I've witnessed. In two weeks time, I've attended two weddings. As different as they were, I was truly moved by the amount of love in them both. One weekend, the first gay wedding I've ever attended. The next, my big cousin tied the knot. Both overflowing with love.
(Be forewarned, I'm not interested in political or religious debate.... I'm just sharing my honest, first-hand experience here.) I was anxious about attending the first wedding because I was unsure of what to expect. I mean, I had never been to a union ceremony, so I kept thinking to myself ... "Will there be bridesmaids? Groomsmen? Who walks them down the aisle?"... (Needless to say, I stressed about what to wear for days because I knew I'd be facing tough critics in this crowd.) Once we arrived at the ceremony location, I felt a sense of relief. My friends and I were seated, and I immediately noticed the amount of love in the room. All of my anxieties, or questions, disappeared. I witnessed so much joy, love and happiness in that place... I honestly thought the windows would bust.
The second wedding a week later was also filled with love and happiness. The bride was beautiful and beaming with happiness, and the groom grinned from ear to ear watching her walk down the aisle. Their honest love for each other made my heart smile. The wedding and reception gave our families time to be together and to celebrate, which is always special in itself.
My experiences over the past two weeks have reminded me of how grateful I am for love... from my husband, my family, and my Heavenly Father. These experiences have also inspired me to show love to those around me.
1 Corinthians 13:13 - "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Shifting Gears
This blog was initially created to help me document my progress toward my New Year's Resolutions as a way to hold myself accountable (and possibly entertain a few readers... ahh heem). My main goals were to run a 5k, set and follow a budget, and try to be a more thoughtful person. As a courtesy to my devout readers.... who are sincerely interested in my progress... I am writing a quick mid-year update.
I ran a 5K in March and have since decided that's not really for me. I'm crossing that one off my list. From now on, I'll be sticking to the classic walk-down-main street or my dear friend, Elliptical. But, I ran one... Mission accomplished.
The budgeting goal is still a work in progress (ask my dear husband... who has bailed me out several times as of late). This will most likely remain a work in progress over the next few months with vacations, weddings, and showers (oh my!). Hopefully, as I finish my master's and see that pay increase, this will be a more feasible goal.
Now to my thoughtfulness...and sometimes lack thereof. I have made a more conscientious effort to do thoughtful things for my friends and family (and some dear strangers along the way) over the past six months. I feel somewhat awkward blogging about these things because it sounds rather "holier-than-thou"... which is NOT my intention in the least. So, I modified this resolution; in addition to being more thoughtful, I will notice the random acts of kindness or thoughtful acts of those around me and blog about what I see. By observing others' thoughtfulness in action, I will be encouraged to follow suit and possibly inspire some of you to do the same.
In the near future, I will share my people-watching (my favorite sport) notes and stories of random acts of kindness around us. Unless I see something really ugly or rude... and I may share that, too.
I ran a 5K in March and have since decided that's not really for me. I'm crossing that one off my list. From now on, I'll be sticking to the classic walk-down-main street or my dear friend, Elliptical. But, I ran one... Mission accomplished.
The budgeting goal is still a work in progress (ask my dear husband... who has bailed me out several times as of late). This will most likely remain a work in progress over the next few months with vacations, weddings, and showers (oh my!). Hopefully, as I finish my master's and see that pay increase, this will be a more feasible goal.
Now to my thoughtfulness...and sometimes lack thereof. I have made a more conscientious effort to do thoughtful things for my friends and family (and some dear strangers along the way) over the past six months. I feel somewhat awkward blogging about these things because it sounds rather "holier-than-thou"... which is NOT my intention in the least. So, I modified this resolution; in addition to being more thoughtful, I will notice the random acts of kindness or thoughtful acts of those around me and blog about what I see. By observing others' thoughtfulness in action, I will be encouraged to follow suit and possibly inspire some of you to do the same.
In the near future, I will share my people-watching (my favorite sport) notes and stories of random acts of kindness around us. Unless I see something really ugly or rude... and I may share that, too.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Summer Simpleness
So....It's been a while.... life's been busy.
The end of school is always an intense time of year, despite the excitement for summer. This year, our end-of-year stress has been significantly higher than in the past. My husband is leaving coaching to be an assistant principal, a bittersweet change for us. Although I will miss the excitement of cheering at games and watching those players grow, I will be happy to have my husband at home a little more. I always joked about being a "baseball widow" from January to May, but I loved the games and the kids. I know we'll have baseball withdrawals next spring, but I'm praying for an easy transition into my new "assistant-principal's wife" title and for my hubby into his new role.
I have been transferred to a new school for next year, so I too, will be moving this summer. Although I'm extremely grateful to have a job in such an awesome school district, I am sad to leave my precious students and school family. I'm still not sure exactly what I'll be doing, but I know it involves a cross-county move. I'm, again, just hoping for a smooth transition. The physical move is unpleasant during these upcountry heat waves. Currently, our garage is slammed full of school supplies, college textbooks, and the husband's office furniture. It's pretty disorganized, but it'll do until we move into our new spaces.
In the meantime, our summer will be full of simple pleasures... Dinners with our dearest friends, days in the yard, nights on the porch solving the problems of the world, fresh tomatoes and peppers from our garden... Tonight, we sit on the back deck reading and, obviously, blogging. The weather is lovely; low 80's & a full moon. I can smile because, despite all the chaos in our changing lives, we have this simple peace. I can smile because we have each other. I can smile because I know we're blessed.
The end of school is always an intense time of year, despite the excitement for summer. This year, our end-of-year stress has been significantly higher than in the past. My husband is leaving coaching to be an assistant principal, a bittersweet change for us. Although I will miss the excitement of cheering at games and watching those players grow, I will be happy to have my husband at home a little more. I always joked about being a "baseball widow" from January to May, but I loved the games and the kids. I know we'll have baseball withdrawals next spring, but I'm praying for an easy transition into my new "assistant-principal's wife" title and for my hubby into his new role.
I have been transferred to a new school for next year, so I too, will be moving this summer. Although I'm extremely grateful to have a job in such an awesome school district, I am sad to leave my precious students and school family. I'm still not sure exactly what I'll be doing, but I know it involves a cross-county move. I'm, again, just hoping for a smooth transition. The physical move is unpleasant during these upcountry heat waves. Currently, our garage is slammed full of school supplies, college textbooks, and the husband's office furniture. It's pretty disorganized, but it'll do until we move into our new spaces.
In the meantime, our summer will be full of simple pleasures... Dinners with our dearest friends, days in the yard, nights on the porch solving the problems of the world, fresh tomatoes and peppers from our garden... Tonight, we sit on the back deck reading and, obviously, blogging. The weather is lovely; low 80's & a full moon. I can smile because, despite all the chaos in our changing lives, we have this simple peace. I can smile because we have each other. I can smile because I know we're blessed.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thoughtfulness of Others
I don't have much time to blog today, but I wanted to take a minute to comment on the thoughtfulness I've noted in others lately. In the past week, a complete stranger helped tow my friends and I out of a bad situation, my sister-in-law shared very inspiring words, and my friends expressed love and concern during a tough time.
Today, even more than most days, these acts of kindness mean the world to me; they are evidence of the good in the world.
Today, my family, friends, and I remember my brother. Six years ago today, he was killed in a car accident at the age of 15.
Today, we grieve, we remember, and we celebrate.
The loving support of my friends and family keeps me sane and smiling. I recognize, more than ever, the impact of a kind word, friendly hug, or simple email.
I get by with a little help from my friends...
Today, even more than most days, these acts of kindness mean the world to me; they are evidence of the good in the world.
Today, my family, friends, and I remember my brother. Six years ago today, he was killed in a car accident at the age of 15.
Today, we grieve, we remember, and we celebrate.
The loving support of my friends and family keeps me sane and smiling. I recognize, more than ever, the impact of a kind word, friendly hug, or simple email.
I get by with a little help from my friends...
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