Thankfulness: Day 6 (Education)

November 6, Day 6: Education

I am thankful to have an education. While I am still paying for some of my schooling, it is amazing to think that I received my foundation of learning for free for 13 years. I know that I'm not brilliant, but I take pride in what I do know and continue to learn. I have been blessed by some incredible teachers. I thought it would be fun to go down memory lane and try to remember all of the teachers that I have had the privilege of knowing. I tried, but around junior high, all of the years starting flowing together. There are too many to remember!

This is where it all began: Wheelersburg Elementary School K-8. I am sad to say that this building is no longer in existence. I spent many days here even before and after I was a student in the school hanging out in my mom's classroom. 

Then came high school: Wheelersburg High School. Proud to be Pirate! Sadly, this building is no longer in existence either. I spent extra time here as well in my dad's classroom.

Next came 4 years of college at Asbury College (now University) where I studied elementary education. There are too many things to say here. It may end up getting it's own day of thankfulness. 

Last but not least: Ohio University (Southern) for my Master's of Education degree in educational leadership. 

Whew! I believe I am finished with my education, unless I come across a large sum of money or am forced to continue it for some reason. I am very grateful for the training that I received at all places. I am who I am today because of the people from within those buildings that challenged me, saw my potential, and pushed me to do my very best. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to learn and the ability to succeed. (That sounds like a graduation speech!) 

Thankfulness: Day 5 (Coffee)

November 5, Day 5: Coffee

I am thankful for coffee. Whoever thought to take a coffee bean, roast it, grind it, and drip scolding hot water through the grounds is a genius. And I thank them, whoever they are. I love coffee in many different ways: Hot. Cold. Black. Flavored. Lattes. Mochas. Cappucinos. Espressos. Fat. Skinny. Regular. Decaf.... It all just makes me happy. Right now, my favorite brew in the Keurig for the morning is Starbucks Pike Place Roast Medium. I also just realized that I have 3 coffee pots in my little kitchen: a regular one, a Keurig, and an espresso machine. Whew. It might be a problem, but I am thankful.

Thankfulness: Day 4 (Church)

November 4, Day 4: Church

I am so thankful that from before I can even remember, I have attended a church. I am thankful for my parents taking us as children and teenagers to build a  solid foundation of our faith. I am thankful for the freedoms that we have to choose where to worship and how to worship. I am thankful for teachers in the church who were called, listened, trained, and teach Biblical truths. I am thankful for families who choose to make up the church and fellowship together and the relationships that I have made with believers there.

There are two specials places to me that I have called my "home" church: Christ's Community Church in Portsmouth, OH, and Southland Christian Church in Nicholasville/Lexington, KY. I am thankful for both places for providing the teaching of God's word, the opportunities to serve, the ministries to people in need, the time to worship, and the fellowship.

Thankfulness: Day 3 (Rest)

November 3, Day 3: Rest

I am thankful for a day of rest. A sabbath. It has been a while since I have had a day with no agenda, no plans, no appointments. I spent day 3 in complete rest. Even though I am thankful for my job (as mentioned in Day 2), along with educating children comes being exposed to their germs. We had strep throat, pneumonia, sniffles, coughs, and sneezes all week and some of them found their way into my system. I was a little under the weather and spent the whole day resting. For that reason, I am thankful for the weekend to rest and relax a little.

I had a dirty house that needed cleaning, but I did not clean anything. I had laundry that needed done, but did none. I had school work that needed worked on, but did none of it. I wanted to go out with a friend, but I didn't really feel up to it. I just rested. I spent my day of resting doing enjoyable things that don't require much energy: spent quality quiet time with God, took a relaxing bath, watched movies, talked to my mom, painted my toenails and fingernails, paid bills, updated the blog, snuggled with the pup, and browsed Pinterest. It was a good day.

I am thankful for time to rest. I was able to give my body a rest and build up some energy. My sick symptoms seem worse today, yet I have some energy to get things done today. For that, I am thankful. 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

*BONUS SIDE NOTE: I wrote this early this morning (extra hour of sleep + dog that didn't know that and awoke at 5:30 am) and was planning to not go to church this morning because of feeling pretty yucky. I took some maximum strength Mucinex D... made me feel SO much better. I quickly got ready and went to church.... guess what the sermon was about? Mary & Martha. Resting.

Heavenly Father, Teach my to number my days that I may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Thankfulness: Day 2 (Teaching)

November 2, Day 2: Teaching

As much time that it consumes, I am very thankful for the job that I have. I am thankful that in my professional career, I have always had a job and even had the chance to switch jobs. I have worked in 2 schools that have challenged me, introduced me to new people, and have helped me become a better teacher. I am thankful to have learned what it means to have a good work ethic. I definitely work hard for what I earn and am thankful that I can support myself financially by working.

I was once asked to name the top 10 lessons learned from teaching kindergarten. I wrote this a couple of years ago, but here we go:

10. Even though you are their teacher, students will call you whatever first pops into their minds: mom, grandma, dad... or my personal favorite: papaw. Don't take offense.

9. One of the toughest challenges to conquer throughout the day: Trying to be serious and not laugh when someone on the carpet "breaks wind" and all the other kids snicker and hold their noses.

8. Apples don't fall far from trees. Ever.

7. The best teachers are made from the ones next door.

6. The sillier, crazier, dumber acting you are as the teacher, the more the students will participate, appreciate, and be engaged.

5. Every holiday and milestone calls for a celebration: missing teeth, birthdays, compliments, new siblings, new shoes, Groundhog Day, skills mastered, books read... and again, the crazier you make it, the better and more rewarding it is for everyone.

4. A bad day can be turned upside down by seeing a simple act of kindness from one student to another. (hah, thankfulness post Day 1?)

3. Nothing beats little notes scribbled on tiny scraps of paper such as: Mis Keller You are buteeful. or Miss Keller is the bestest techer in the wurld.

2. You can learn a year's worth of information about a child by visiting them in their home. It explains good and bad and gives a better understanding for why they are the way they are.

1. It is true: EVERYTHING you need to know you learn in kindergarten: fairness, patience, respect, diligence, work ethic, kindness, humility... Especially true of what the teacher learns. And we just hope that a little bit of each of those is instilled in the kiddos as well.

Where else can you help a child learn something brand new for the first time, break out into random song or dance, have people believe you are the smartest person in the world and want to be you some day, have many different careers all rolled into one (nurse, mom, actress, artist, musician, counselor, janitor...), and dress up with friends for the smallest of occasion? Yeah, it's kinda awesome to be a kindergarten teacher.

 Halloween 2009 with teachers at Clay (I was Hannah Montana.)

Jen & I dressed as Japanese dolls for Halloween

 Jen & I at Clay teaching our kids about opposites...

 ... in a way that a true OSU fan would understand.

 Brenda and I dressed up for the fairy tale ball.

 80s Day at JELV... just because.

Sturgeon and I rocking our 80s attire.

 More 80s day.

Community Helper Day 2011... I dressed up as Christy Chance. She was a vet.

Becca and I at the Family Fun Night hoe down.

And... last but not least, Becca and I on community helper day 2012. Booyah.

Thankfulness: Day 1 (Compassion & Kindness)

It's a common trend to use the month of November as a reflective time of thankfulness. While it is so very important to be thankful all throughout the year, it is nice to purposefully acknowledge the blessings that we have. I have decided to do a blog post each day of November to share 30 of the things/people/ideas/emotions that I am most thankful for. The things I choose each day will in no way be in any particular order. Some may be serious and thought provoking while others may be something silly and fun. So here we go...

November 1, Day 1: Compassion & Kindness

A little bit of kindness goes a long way. Over the summer I was asked to share my favorite part of my job. My response was that moment when I see students show kindness to each other on their own, with no expectation of a reward; when they come to a point of inner compassion toward others with no gain for themselves. Teaching 5-year-olds, this isn't a common thing to see happen. They are quite egocentric at this age; however, their desire to please and be accepted allows an open heart toward others.

I have been blessed this year with a very, very sweet group of children. Yes, we have our good days and bad and a few quirks here and there, but overall they are a loving, fun, sweet, smart, thoughtful little group of kids. This week has definitely proved that. I shared a map with my students at the beginning of the week to show them the weather changes that were coming. I talked about the hurricane and the effects it would have on many people's lives. We do not live close to where it hit, and I overemphasized that to them (to prevent fears). I explained how there would be a lot of wind and rain that could ruin people's homes and schools.

One little girl was really listening. She went home and told her parents that she was worried about the kids stuck in the storm. She wanted to help them. They asked her what she wanted to do, and she wanted to send them candy for trick-or-treating. Her parents fulfilled her request and sent bags of candy to Red Cross shelters in West Virginia (victims of the blizzard) so that the children there could celebrate Halloween. I. Love. This. Her dad sent me a picture tweeted by the Red Cross. These are some kids who received the candy that she sent.

This small act of kindness really brightened my mood. I'm thankful for the lessons that compassion and kindness can teach us. I'm thankful for the reminder from a 5-year-old of the importance to put others before ourselves. I'm thankful to have the chance to show kindness to children and teach them the importance of paying it forward. I'm also thankful for kind words from others. A simple little word of encouragement can make me feel on top of the world.

I'm thankful for the compassion and kindness that has been shown to me.

Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."