Quote of the Week

"Too many people, too many demands, too much to do; competent, busy, hurrying people. It just isn't living at all."
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I chose this quote for the week because lately I've been just plain too busy. I haven't 'stopped to smell the roses'. I'm ready for things to slow down a bit! (Which is unusual for me because normally I want life to 'hurry up'!)

BigLots

My husband and I love to shop at BigLots! Sometimes we just walk around to kill time. My husband likes to see 'what kind of deals he can find'. He loves finding a great deal. I love their home decor items. They're good quality and cheap! Today while browsing I picked up a super cute candle centerpiece for our coffee table and a cute toothbrush holder/cup/soap dispenser set for our guest bathroom. I also found an ADORABLE trunk that will go great with our new bedroom decor- I'm heading back for it tomorrow! So, if your looking for a place to find cute home decor items at a reasonable price- check out BigLots!


(Oh, for my faithful blog readers, I know I've promised pics of our master bedroom since it's overhaul. However, I'm still tying up loose ends in the decorating department. We're also having an armoire custom built to match the new furniture- that will take a few weeks. Once it's all finished I'll post pics- within the next month).

Pretty Piggies

One of my favorite things to do is get a manicure and pedicure. Well, today was a long, long, long, long, long....you get the picture...day. So, to lift my spirits and calm my achy hands and feet, I popped into my favorite nail salon. I splurged on a mani and pedi but it was well worth it! It's so relaxing to have your toes painted and then get your legs and back massaged at the same time (I'm in love with their leather, massaging, whirl-pool chairs.) Ahhh...mazing! I try and splurge on this monthly, but lately it's been every two weeks! My husband is jealous- so I've agreed to take him to get a pedicure if he wants (he's interested in the massaging chair and foot rub!). haha The only place better than the nail salon is the hair salon! I LOVE going to the beauty shop and getting 'beautified' while catching up on the local happenings (happenings sounds a bit better than gossip!) haha

So here's to pretty piggies and freshly manicured fingers!

Fried Dill Pickles Fridays

Friday nights are fried dill pickle nights! There is a small restaurant in our town that makes fried dill pickles. Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE pickles! I eat a jar of them every weekend! I also love fried dill pickles! So, every Friday night I head to J&K Whistle Stop and get a large order of fried dill pickles. It's like my sweet, or should I say sour, treat at the end of each week! YUMMO! Bobby had to work today so I'm on my own for lunch. Hmmm......I think I might order some for lunch today! I can never eat too many fried dill pickles!

I also cook these delicious treats at home. I love to make them as a snack for a good movie- they're better than popcorn any day! My recipe is a little different from J&K's (I think mine taste better- but I love not having to cook on Fridays).

Sylvia Grace's Fried Dill Pickles

1 jar of kosher dill pickles- whole (I like to cut them up myself. But you could buy them sliced)
1 cup of all purpose flour
1 cup of corn meal
Canola Oil
1 tsp. salt

Mix flour, salt, and corn meal together. (J&K only uses flour. Corn meal makes them a bit more crispy-which is how I like them!). Slice pickles thinly (about the width of two quarters). Coat pickles in flour mixture and place in oil. I cook mine in a small fry daddy on about 350 degrees. Let pickles cook until golden brown. Place on a towel to absorb oil. Then, sit back, relax, and ENJOY!

Well, I'm off to call in an order of Fried Dill Pickles!

Quote of the Week / Recommended Reads

This week's quote is an excerpt from the Christian fiction book Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson. I finished this book several weeks ago. It was a good read and had a great point. It focused on a doctor's wife- rich, comfortable, but not content- who slowly realizes that routine and possessions aren't the the key to happiness. She was what many would call a 'comfortable Christian'. She slowly begins to volunteer and steps out of her comfort zone to serve the Lord- which means she leaves her materialistic personality behind. I would recommend this as a good read!

"So here's the bottom line. Do I want to stand before God's throne and say I kept a clean house, I made sure my child was athletic, musical, artistic, and got good grades, I was present at all the important church activities, and I changed the oil in my car every three thousand miles because I was such a good steward of my blessings?
Is that all I will have to show for the gift of life?
Dear God, I hope not." pg. 270

"We only change when staying the same becomes even more frightening." pg. 227

"If you open yourself up to the possibility that God is found in locales you've never imagined; you'll meet Him in all sorts of faces and places you never thought possible." pg. 154

A Name For Hermit Crab

Last week during story time I read the book A House For Hermit Crab to my students. I made a huge prop for this story in college so I was able to use it again. After the story I informed my students that we would be getting our own hermit crab for our classroom. As part of their art time I had them construct/decorate their own hermit crab. Then, I came around and asked them what they would name it. I hung their pictures up all over the room- they were so cute! So, Friday night I purchased two hermit crabs for our classroom. Now, the problem is I'm not sure what to name them. The last two hermit crabs I had (yes, I've done this before for school) were named Fred and Ethel- I'm a huge I Love Lucy fan! I thought about picking two names from my students artwork. But, the other students would feel left out because I didn't choose their name. So, here are some pictures of our class pets. Their shells are really decorated- hence to go with the theme of the story. I'm taking suggestions from my blog fans. I thought about naming them Tori and Dean - yes, after my favorite show! Here's the question of the day. "What should I name our hermit crabs?"

Ron Clark Comes To Meridian

Today was an exciting event for the Meridian Public School District. They arranged for Ron Clark to come and speak to all of the district teachers. For those of you who are unfamiliar with teaching icons, Ron Clark is know as 'America's Educator'. He is probably the most decorated teacher in our nation's history. A few years ago a movie was made about his life starring Matthew Perry, The Ron Clark Story. It's very inspirational and I recommend it for those who have never seen it. Ron's most recent endeavor was founding his own school, The Ron Clark Academy, in Atlanta, GA. I would absolutely LOVE to go and observe his school, the teachers, and him in action. The problem is I can't afford the fee- it cost $10 grand for him to come and speak today! Donations, anyone?

Overall Ron did a fabulous job. He was so hilariously funny- yet he kept it real. Everything he said hit home to educators. By the end of the presentation, my sides hurt from laughing so much. He was so funny I was in tears! It was like going to an awesome comedy show. During grad school this summer I was required to read two of his books and critique them. So, it was interesting to see him in real life. Too bad I didn't get one of my books autographed!

I encourage you to google his name and see some of the things he has done. For instance, his middle school guarantees that by the time the kids leave eight grade, they will have visited six of the seven continents! Amazing! He is truly hypnotizing and inspiring.

Here is a snippet of the movie 'The Ron Clark Story'

Also, visit his school website at www.ronclarkacademy.com.
I also urge fellow teachers to read his two books, The Essential 55 and The Excellent 11.

Quote of the Week

This week's quote is one of my favorite passages from the Bible. Lately, during my time of new beginnings, this scripture has really been on my mind.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

My study Bible has this passage from Luci Swindoll pertaining to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

"In Ecclesiastes 3, the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, expounds on the times and seasons of our lives and how they all fit together. Life is not some vague process of subtle, illogical patterns place willy-nilly in our path for us to puzzle over. It's a composite of definitives: joys and sorrows, gains and losses, giving and keeping, laughing and grieving, loving and losing....on and on until the last numbered day arrives." Luci Swindoll

Kindergarten Kraziness- Weak Stomach's not allowed

Today was round two. Lessons learned:
1) Your babies will throw up!
2) This could happen on the floor- but 9 times out of 10, they vomit on your rug.
3) More times than not, they will be covered in vomit.
4) This could even happen on you- yes, they will throw up on you!!

Numbers 1-3 happened to me. I'm still waiting on #4. My day started of with a bang, when, at 8:15, one of my babies threw up on the rug and herself. Well, I rush to help her to the sink, get a good whiff of it, and I start gaging. The counselor is trying to get me into the bathroom before I hurl! Ahh, nothing get's your blood pumping in the morning like throw up! The whole fiasco was so hilariously not funny that it WAS funny. I just stood there, amidst the chaos, and started laughing. I almost couldn't control myself. My K babies are breaking me in good! Even among the midst of puke, crying babies, and my own self gaging, there was still nowhere else I would have rather been! So, what did I learn today? I need to get a stronger stomach!

KINDERGARTEN KRAZINESS - lessons learned on the first day of school

During my undergrad work we were encouraged to journal our adventures in teaching. I managed to scrounge up enough energy to journal this.

Lessons Learned on my First Day
1) Be sure to locate/know your students lunch numbers (preferably BEFORE you enter the lunch line. I'm so sorry cafeteria workers. I honestly DID NOT KNOW!)
2) Have students memorize their lunch numbers. (Once again, I apologize.)
3) Until students students have memorized their numbers, have it clearly written on their name badges. (Preferably BEFORE you enter the lunch line). (Please don't hate me, I really am sorry! I promise that you're getting a loaf of my homemade sourdough bread this week!)
4) Have a daily 'to-do' list for assistant. This will help stabalize any OCDness you may suffer from.
5) It's okay to panic when, at 4:00 you're late for grad school AND your biggest 'what if' has come true- a student has gone MIA sometime during the hustle of bus/car rider pick ups. The parent is there wanting to know where their child is. (Big OOOPS! Not my fault though, which the parent stressed at least a hundred times. It was the Boys and Girls Club's fault.) Just DON'T panic in front of the parent.

In all seriousness, I learned more today- my first day- than I did during my ENTIRE time in the Education Program at MSU. Nothing they could have told me would have prepared me for today. Teaching is one of those professions where you have to live, make mistakes, and learn from them. Experience is your education!

Oh, I just realized- I SURVIVED MY FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!

I feel like I could scream.....

"The Scream"
Painting by Edvard Munch

There is plenty more 'advice' where this came from. After all, today's only the first day. Many more days to go. So tune in for my next issue of KINDERGARTEN KRAZINESS

Ready To Save The World

My school held a 'Meet & Greet' this afternoon for the parents and students. It was a time for parents and students to meet their teacher, check out the classrooms, drop off school supplies, and get an overview of how the classes will work. I'm very proud to say that 13 out of 18 of my parents/students came! I called all of my parents yesterday to remind them- I guess it worked! I was soooooo nervous to meet them. But I'm glad we had this time because I'm more confident for tomorrow morning.

Gosh, it's hard to believe that tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. I'll have 18 kindergarten babies. I can just picture them sitting on my rug, eyes wide, looking like scared little chicks- I guess that makes me 'Mama Hen'! lol It's going to be an adventure for all of us. After all, tomorrow is my first day of school as a first year teacher! It's my first day of kindergarten too!

I'm beginning to have the 'What if...' thoughts. "What if I mess up the bus duty? And at 4:00 I have ten kids sitting in the office with me?" "What if I can't teach them what they need to know? What if I can't get through to them?" "What if my alarm clock doesn't go off and I wake up at 10:00?" "What if they don't like me?"

These are just a few of the nightmares I've been having lately. I'm scared to death, yet I've never felt so excited. I've been telling myself over and over "I'm a teacher. I've been trained to do this." Well, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I'm going to bed at 7 tonight. I have to get a good nights sleep- after all, tomorrow I have to be ready to save the world!

New Beginnings

Lately I've been reflecting on myself, my life, my career, my family, and my friendships. I've come to realize that I'm at a very special and rare point in my life- my time for new beginnings. The last, and greatest, new beginning I had was during the time when God called me into 'my desert' (Birmingham) and I was saved. That was the best 'beginning' I will ever have. This new beginning I speak of now is a bit different. I'm really evaluating the things, and people, that do and do not make me happy. I'm at a very exciting time in my life. So, what's are my 'new beginnings'? There are several..... I just graduated college and I'm about to begin my new career as a teacher. In June I started on a new path in school towards earning my Master's degree in June '09 and beginning my Doctorate that August. Monday was my first day 'on contract' with my new job as a kindergarten teacher. My students will arrive on Monday morning ready for me to fill their minds with knowledge. My husband and I are also at an exciting time in our lives. Since I've graduated and am now working we are able to take action on several dreams we have for our life. We are looking at new houses and praying about this endeavor. We're also beginning to discuss and prepare for the possibility of children in our future. I've also made several new friendships with fellow Parkview teachers. I've been praying over several of my relationships/friendships and have finally come to some decisions. Thus, I've discovered what I do and do not want from friendships/relationships- a few have begun to fade away while others are strengthening.

The air is electrical. I feel it every year at this time, when Autumn is just around the corner- but especially this year with all of my new beginnings. I'm full of excitement for the future. During my college years it felt as if I were standing on the sidelines, waiting for that moment when my life could start. I'm finally a teacher- my true calling from God. It feels as if I've stepped into adulthood. I've jumped onto the track and am now running in the race called life. I've reached that point in my life where I've finally figured out what, and who, makes me happy, and what I want from life. I'm also more aware of just who I am and who I want to be. It feels as if my new life is starting. For the moment, I'm breathing a bit easier.