Choose Your Outlook

I could be REALLY discouraged right now. I mean, I spent $50 to share a “Local Authors Booth” at Old Court Days in hopes of selling copies of my two new books as well as find some new buyers of my first two books.

I mean, I was ZONKED by the heat of Friday’s field trip, so spending the weekend outside didn’t have a big draw. But, being able to sell my books did. So, I sat. For over 9 hours on Saturday and 3 1/2 hours today, I sat in the heat. Hoping to sell books. Trying to promote my “author” side of life. When the radar dictated we start packing up a bit before 3 on Sunday, I had sold….ZERO books. Yesterday, I sold 6.

Now, I thought I was being realistic when I hoped to sell half of what I sold in the fall. In the fall, I sold 49 books over the 3-day weekend, but I sold 35 of them on Saturday and Sunday. So, do your math, students. I hoped to sell 15-20 books. I sold 6. To be honest, at first it felt like a punch in the gut.

Then, my silver-lining-finder took over. In the past two months, I’ve sold 73 books! I have another 27 requested and delivery just needs to be scheduled. Yes, that’s what I’ll look at. I will choose to see the good.

I try to do that in other aspects of my life. It would be easy to focus on the negative, and sadly we live in a world that seems to encourage that. But…what if we focus on the good? What if we choose to see what is going well and improving the other things rather than focusing on the negative and overlooking the good.

You should try it. Choose an outlook that brings joy instead of an outlook that feels like a punch in the gut. You’ll be glad you did.

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The End Is Near…

Okay, I’m not being morbid or prophetic. I’m a teacher. The end? The end of my 23rd year as a 3rd grade teacher. With the end of every school year, I ponder. I ponder the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the things to continue, and the things to change. I ponder….

Let’s tackle the bad….

The main “bad” would be negative choices by students and bad habits of mine. What bad habit? We could do the unimportant one of keeping an untidy teacher corner. Honestly, “untidy” is an understatement. My “teacher corner” has become a running joke….as it’s only clean/organized for the first few weeks of school. Then….life happens. The bigger would be struggles some of my kiddos have with self-control. However, with this bad comes its own good. How could that be good? Well, my boys who struggle the most will also say, “But Miss Pflaumer loves us anyway, even when we have bad days and make disrespectful choices.” So….they know my love for them is unconditional even though my expectations are high.

The ugly? One word. TESTING! Due to teacher evaluations, we must start and end the year with a quick 10-question test. This test, however, will impact my final evaluation…whether I’ll be considered effective or highly effective. Then, there’s our building’s “new” DOK 9-week indicator assessments. There’s one for language arts and one for math. Each one takes either a full math class or most of a language arts’ block. Then, we have to insert + or – in a table to show mastery of the DOKs for each indicator. Now, those are just the teacher-made-test-mandates. We can’t forget NWEA which we take in reading, language, and math at the beginning of the year and in the winter. Finally, as third graders, we spend a week taking the I-READ test which Indiana says third graders must pass to move on to 4th grade (or at least 4th grade language arts instruction). If a student has an IEP or is ESL then they may be “waived” to the next grade. If not…even if the teacher KNOWS they can read and understand and just don’t test well or focus well….sorry about your luck. Lastly, there’s the ILEARN test which took the place of ISTEP. Now, ISTEP took a part of two weeks twice a year…before spring break and in April This test is supposedly smaller, but it didn’t seem to be based on time “served”. We’ve made it to the final SLO test…then…I think this UGLY beast will be behind us.

Now that the stormy part is over let’s look at the rainbows….

The student who struggles with several academic areas but is close to becoming one of our spelling bee representatives.

The excitement of my students when they made commercials for their chapter book using Adobe Spark.

The extra recesses earned by Dojo points where I play 4-square with at least half of my class… impressing them with my skills and entertaining them with my antics.

The eagerness of starting a new “rock n read” book or the regret of ending it.

The laughs….the hugs….the jokes…the aha moments and the woohoos too.

Changes?

I need to focus on the positive more than the negative. I need to try (once again) to keep my corner a bit more organized. I want to keep my class Facebook updated more frequently and incorporate Class Dojo Portfolio more regularly.

Continue?

Teach with joy. See my students as blessings, even on their bad days and my bad days. Remember that no matter what happened today…tomorrow is a new day and a second chance. We all need a second chance, don’t we?

Topper Takes the Cake!

Well, my first title idea was “Post-Vet Guilt”, but that didn’t sound very creative. So….here are the thoughts running through my mind like an exhausted athlete in a marathon….

A vet visit to a cat must be a lot like a dental visit to humans. Some people dread it, but they can deal with it and move on. Some look forward to it or are happy to go. Others fear it so mightily that they need a sedative to calm them during the ordeal. Similarly, I’ve had a cat that is the feline counterpart of each of those.

The first would be Jasper. The mighty beast would transform into the Cowardly Lion when entering his plastic jail to be carried to the vet. Dr. Geyman was always entertained with my stories of his antics because she never saw the “Real Jasper” due to his dread of his time there. However, as soon as we’d walk away from the clinic, he was back to his normal. He’d relax on the drive home, run off in disgust when we returned home until he forgave me for making him face the dread V word.

Then, there’s RockyTop. The cat whose heart “seems good” but has never been fully stated due to his purr machine always being engaged AT the vet and ON the examination table. Even when he went in for his surgeries, he came out being cuddled and adored by the staff and the purr machine was still engaged. We returned to the house, and it was just normal routine. Ready to eat. Ready to play. Purring the whole time.

I thought Topper was going to be Rocky-ish. His energy and attitude at home is proud and lively. All the way up to the vet, he never uttered a single meow and made his first sound as we walked from the car into the clinic. He stayed resting in his carrier as I left. I figured….he’ll be a tough one to watch post-surgery because he’ll be running all over the place. Then today, I picked him up.

I creatively scheduled my blood work at the Wellness Clinic shortly before Topper could be picked up, so I could supervise his reentry and make sure Rocky didn’t cause too much harm to him. The lady working the front desk took care of the bill then went back to get Topper’s carrier.

I looked and he was curled up in back of the carrier just like Tuesday. Then, I opened the door and….

An ear-piercing crying-meow started. It was pitiful and gut-wrenching and guilt-inducing.

I looked into the carrier and my lively little feline was shaking like a forgotten stray cat on a rainy night. My eyes automatically reacted with a bit of tears, so I started talking to him….”It’s okay, Topper. We’re going home to Brother. You can cuddle my neck all stinkin’ day if you need to.” I looked down at the stop sign, and he had sprawled out along the side of the carrier. The feline chat continued, “We’ll be home soon, and you’ll feel better.” As I pulled to the side of the road before whipping a U into my parking spot, I looked down, and there he lay. He was curled up in the front of the carrier, right next to the gate, looking up at me. Fearful cries were in the past.

Now, my lively little guy is curled up on the carpet. I’ve had to use the “Water Police” to protect him from Rocky’s roughhousing until his energy returns to make it a fair rough-and-tumble.

Goodness! I bet this is a smidgen of what parents feel when their children go to the doctor. Maybe it’s a good thing I’m a single lady with no kids. The guilt is too much for this lady.

Moments That Made Me Smile…

As I wrote yesterday, speaking in front of adults on Saturday when it wasn’t centered on my faith or the Bible was a step outside my comfort zone. Guess what? God knew. So, here are the moments that made me smile as I drove from Madison to Lawrenceburg, hung out at the convention, and drove back home.

As I was driving and pondering my nerves about being in front of people talking about my journey and my acting on the dream of writing, KLOVE played the song “Stand in Your Love.” The chorus states that “my fear doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in Your love.” Great reminder.
I tried to keep my thoughts off my nerves by singing. Alas, KLOVE was having its pledge drive, so I kept flipping between it and WIKI which is our local country station. Finally, I gave up and thought, “Maybe I still have a CD in.” I pushed play. These words came out. “…why would I let worries steal my breath…You give me everything I need.” Ah, the simple reminder of a Lauren Daigle song.
While I sat up my book sale table, two retired Southwestern teachers came over to offer assistance and encouraging words. Thanks, Patti & Marsha!
In the hall while I waited for the 10:00 session to end, two retired Madison teachers kept me company as we shared stories of old that brought much needed levity. Thanks, Susan and Kathy.
My group had more than 5 and less than 20…which was my hope. I knew if it was large my nerves would really take over. In the group who attended were those same two Southwestern teachers as well as the retired principal who had supervised me while I did a medical leave in 6th grade. Friendly faces always lessen the nerves…. Thanks, Joyce, Marsha, and Patti!
Those same Madison teachers invited me to join them at their lunch table.
As I endured a longer-than-expected business session, my nephew and picture-book illustrator interacted with me via text messages. Thanks, Connor!
When I finally headed home at 4:30, rain was falling. Ugh. I am not a fan of driving. I’m less a fan of driving solo. And….driving solo in the rain, not a fan at all! But, this girl wanted to go home, so off I went. All the way home, the rain never grew heavier than a good shower and often dwindled to steady sprinkles.
In the midst of the heaviest rain, K-Love played “Eye of the Storm,” and I hear these lyrics. “In the eye of the storm, You remain in control…You alone are the anchor when my sails are torn. Your love surrounds me in the eye of the storm.” That one actually brought a chuckle.
Then, as I drove the long and winding road from Lawrenceburg to Versailles, I noticed the trees on either side. Now, these were the same trees that stood on my way to Lawrenceburg, but my nerves kept me from noticing. Now, I noticed how lovely the redbuds were with their purple flowers, and how the other trees seemed to have lime green leaves. Now, to most, this would just be trees. But…when you’re known to your students by your three favorite colors of purple, orange, and lime green….you start laughing out loud.
Finally, I left without eating breakfast due to nerves…just ate a few Munchos. The breakfast of champions? Nope, the breakfast of nervous drivers. Then, I was treated to the lunch of the convention, but by the time I reached the line the fresh fruit was pretty much just honeydew melon. Plus, I’m a big fan of potato salad, but I’m also really picky about my potato salad. This one was SWEET…ugh. The entree? Lunch meat. So, it kept my stomach from growling, but it wasn’t quite a tasty lunch. Now…can you believe this one? Taco Bell drive-thru was short. I kid you not. I only had one car between me and ordering. Then, they had my food ready as soon as I pulled up to the window. It’s a modern-day-mini-miracle.

So….those are the smiles that lessened my nerves and reminded me that even when I’m a bit anxious…He’s got me in the palm of His hand and will remind me as often as I need that I am loved. So, how has He made you smile?

Out of My Comfort Zone

Back in January, Harriet, the current president of our local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, emailed me to ask if I’d consider presenting at the DKG State Convention. She told me that when “they” would get together that they’d often mention my sharing at our November meeting. My gut reaction was to say “no” because…talking in front of groups that aren’t kids or my church family isn’t in my comfort wheel house. But….then I thought…

1. Maybe this is a way to shine His light.

And

2. Your new books need buyers.

After agreeing to the request, I asked a very important question. “How long are the sessions?” Then, I found out they were 50 minutes. So, the 5 minute sharing in November needed to be transformed into a 50-minute presentation. Yikes!

Fortunately, I’m now a Google girl, so I quickly started a Slides presentation. Hmmm….. So, I started thinking of how I had always dreamed of writing books, but I kept putting it off and saying “One Day” I’d do it. I even refer to it as my “One Day Dream” in my chapter books, so my title was created. “One Day Dreams…Turning One Day into Today!”

So, I started with my first “real career dream” which was being a chef and owning my own restaurant. That was my dream in 7th grade. Because of it, I took French as my foreign language. If I had known then that I would end up being a teacher, I would’ve taken Spanish. I’ve had several ESL students over my 23 years, and some of them have had parents who were beginners in English, so speaking Spanish would’ve been really handy. In 23 years, I’ve not had one single French student enter my class. Go figure! Anyway, after I started doing some cooking at home, I quickly realized that cooking for a living would not be a joy-giver. I still like to cook. I especially like cooking when it can help others by providing a meal for the family who’s had a new baby or a member who’s had surgery. But, sometimes, dreams need to change when you get a dose of its reality.

Then, I spoke of my dream of singing. I love singing. However, I didn’t start singing until I was 26 years olds. Lack of confidence can easily put a talent in the closet until you find the courage to take it out and give it a go. Yet, I quickly learned that some dreams are meant to remain hobbies. I sing on our church’s praise team once a month. I’ve had the pleasure of singing in weddings of three of my friends as well as a funeral of the wife of one of our church’s charter members. Alas, I was also the hired “wedding singer” once, and I quickly learned that’s it’s not something I’m meant to do.

Next dream? Teaching.

During the summer of 1986, I went on a mission trip to Gary, IN. As we taught in downtown Gary, I was overwhelmed with the realization that God has given me skills in working with children. So, my senior year in high school, I was a cadet teacher in the first grade classroom of a lady who attends my church. Because of my experience in her classroom, I was asked to teach a VBS class as a 17-year-old with the parent of a classmate as my assistant. Off to Carson-Newman College, I achieved a degree in elementary education. I was even given one of two awards for Outstanding Student Teaching (Sadly, I never received the actual award…just a certificate with the award to come later. Hmmm, it’s been 27 years, so I think it must be lost in the mail. Ha!). I was certain I’d walk right into a teaching job. My dream was to teach in Tennessee, but I soon learned a lot of education positions are filled based on relationship to a community, so back to Indiana I headed. Then…more disappointment as I was interviewed and passed over more times than I can count. I could’ve given up, but I was certain this was my calling as a career. So I became a substitute teacher. In each elementary classroom I would absorb ideas and learn from those who were experienced. I was a sponge just waiting to squeeze out all of my experience, education, and talents on my own classroom. Finally, in August of 1996, Southwestern hired me to teach third grade, and 23 years later…that’s what I continue to do.

The dreams continue. One dream remained. A dream that started back in high school. The dream of publishing a book. The dream remained during college. “One day”, I told myself, “I’ll do it.” Years went by, but each year when I read a book or did an author study on Patricia Polacco, I thought, “One day…maybe soon.” You see, Patricia Polacco didn’t publish her first book until she was in her 40s. I kid you not! When i learned that I thought, “I’m in my 40s, it’s not too late.” Then, last spring, I made my summer goals. An exercise goal. A new recipe goal. A reading goal. And…I was going to do it. Using Create Space, which is now Kindle Direct Publishing through Amazon, I was going to take the “Jasper’s ABCs” I wrote while modeling for my third graders and turn it into a “real book” and I was going to start that 4-book chapter book series, which I had promised my kiddos I’d do whenever I wrote my books.

Now? The dream is a seed that has started to bloom. As each book concludes, I ponder my next. This summer? I hope to finish the last two books in the 4-book series and write my third picture book.

My “one day” finally happened. What about yours? What’s your dream? Don’t wait. Make a plan. Set a goal. And….GO FOR IT!

Ordering by Faith

“Jasper…The Figurative Language Feline” and “Pet to Predator” are both LIVE on Amazon. This is good news. Kindle Direct Publishing allows authors to buy discounted copies of the books for us to sell at events and personally. This is good news. I’ve been asked to “speak” at the Delta Kappa Gamma (Educator Society) Convention at the end of April. This is good news, but also it’s a little scary. Then, David Kummer, a young author and church friend, has invited me to share a booth at our local “Old Court Days ” in May as we did in September. This is good news. With all this good news, what could be bad?

To be honest, it’s not bad, but it was a little overwhelming. With these two opportunities coming up and four children’s books now published, I had to order copies. Even with the author discount, buying multiple copies….multiple copies of four different books adds up…fast.

The cautious single teacher in me suggested I buy 25 copies of each book. Then, if they all sold, I could buy more. The bargain shopper and money-maker in me debated that if I buy 100 copies of each then the shipping/book would be less and the profit would be more. The safe purchaser and introverted part of me thought I could just buy the ones I knew I could sell and let everyone else buy from Amazon. Decisions…decisions.

So…I took a sensible leap of faith on my writing. I bought more than what the safe purchaser and single teacher believed was right, but I also talked down the crazy lady telling her than an Amazon total over $1,000 was not prudent.

Now? I wait for the books to arrive. I put the finishing touches on my Delta Kappa Gamma “One Day Dreams” presentation and give a child-audience-version to 3rd graders during Career Day. I wrangle my “most favorite nephew in the whole entire world” who also happens to be my picture books’ illustrator into initialing the 125 picture books before April 27th. And…of course, I start writing “Becoming the Beast” and “Jasper’s 12 Gifts of Christmas Break”.

In the end, it’s nice when the books sell. It’s a great perk if I make some $$ off the sales; my nephew enjoys this one too. But…I write for the joy of writing and the enjoyment of seeing the looks on my kiddos’ faces when I read the books to them. If others enjoy them too, that’s icing on the children’s books’ cake.

So…whether the faith it took to spend hundreds of dollars on books is met with success or failure…I’m good with my final decision.

Then, I think of the faith I have in the One who never fails and rejoice that I don’t question whether that choice was correct. For a peace that surpasses understanding affirms that He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow regardless of whether a single book written my Jodi Lea & Jasper ever sees the inside of someone’s home. The Author of Life….He’s where my faith remains.

Power of Perspective

Perspective is defined as “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something”. Lately, I’ve pondered frequently about the power of your perspective. This really hit home this afternoon. As I finished reading a chapter of “BFG” to my kiddos, my cell phone rang. A student brought it to me, but I didn’t answer it because not much will interrupt my read aloud time. As I glanced down at the screen, I saw “North Madison Veterinary Clinic”, and my stomach fell.

You see, before December 17, I would have just assumed it was a reminder about HillTopper’s upcoming appointment. However, due to Jasper’s sudden heart failure and subsequent passing, my thoughts immediately turned to doubt and sadness. Because of the tears cried over Jasper’s passing, I dished out extra funds to pay for extra testing during RockyTop’s appointment in January. I listened to the message and heard the vet assistant tell me to return a call about RockyTop. Oh no! I feared one of his tests must’ve come back badly. He must have some health condition. As I walked my students out to their buses, I pondered….What if he needs weekly or daily meds, can I afford it? What if it’s worse and there’s something really wrong with him? I mean, he doesn’t act like any cat I’ve had before, so what if… I tell ya, that trip around was the longest 10 minutes of my day. I contemplated whether I should drive home first “just in case”, so no tears would be shed in 302. I took a deep breath. I dialed. I requested Roxanne. I listened…as she told me…”We realized we neglected to give Rocky his booster, so he’ll need to come in when you bring Topper for another shot.” Wait? That’s it! I laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. I also suggested they leave a few more details in messages when a client had recently lost a previous pet. You see…perspective….it caused what would have been a mere 10 minutes of waiting transform into 10 minutes of emotional stress.

So, then I started considering all the other other perspective chats I’ve had with myself recently.

Last night, I had a parent contact me upset because her child had to stay in at recess to write a misspelled spelling word a few times. I have my kiddos write their spelling words in their planner to ensure they have a word list to study at home each night. Therefore, I find it important that those words are spelled correctly to help them learn them correctly. If it’s misspelled, they could learn it the misspelled way…and that wouldn’t be beneficial. The parent’s perspective was that it wasn’t a test, so a consequence for misspelling the word wasn’t important. It’s all in perspective.

This week, our temperatures have been anywhere from the 40s-60s. As the third graders leave the cafeteria, they utter, “Wow, it’s a warm day today.” After the super cold temps last week, 40s seem warm. However, back in August when we had a week of 50s and 60s, those same students left the cafeteria saying, “Brrr, it’s chilly out here today.” Perspective…

Politics? Democrat or Republican? It all depends on your perspective on the topics and issues the government oversees or tries to oversee. However, this past Sunday, my pastor made a statement that clearly shows my perspective. I’ll end this short post with this quote from Pastor Hamby, “The ‘right side of history’ belongs not to the donkey or to the elephant, but to the Lamb.”

“And crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'”
Revelation 7:10

Jasper’s Fans & My Friends

Wow! What a day! It started with tears…again. But…a wonderful thing happened between 2:47 yesterday and 2:47 today….tears subsided and were replaced with smiles.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m sure tears will still come when Facebook memories remind me of Jasper’s antics and our 11 1/2 years as roommates, but the journey is more smiles and less tears.

Why? Because of you…and my kiddos.

Countless friends, family, & Jasper fans have left sweet condolences jasper and well wishes on my last blog post. When I read them, tears flowed, but they also wrapped a verbal hug around my sad shoulders. Then, I entered 302…knowing that my kiddos knew….and….

Z gave me a sweet note. “Dear Miss P, I am sorry for your loss. I enjoy Jasper’s stories. He was a great cat. Love, Z”

R gave me a sweet card. “Never was a pet better cared for or loved. Wishing you peace and comfort in the memories of the friend you loved so much. Sorry for you loss. Love, R”

R#2 sent me an email. Subject? “roses are red, violets are blue, you may not be able to see jasper but he’s right beside you.” The message? “Sorry for your loss.”
[I admit, my first thought was…”Where are the capitals?” It’s a teacher-thing.]

S offered me one of her kittens. She has three girls and one boy. I told her I figured I’d get two boys in hopes the companionship would help the territorial nature stay away, and I hoped to find brothers. But, if I can’t find two related boys, I’d gladly take her little guy. When she told me her brother got some paint on it, I smiled.

Two girls suggested I get a kitten that looks “just like” Jasper and name him Jasper, so I’d still have a Jasper living with me.

Honestly, they were so sweet and caring about how I felt that my cup started overflowing with a bit of joy in the midst of the sadness. Many coworkers also offered hugs or sweet sentiments….

Then, a remarkable thing happened. I talked about Jasper and this weekend… without tears. Seriously! I ended the day by reading “A Cat’s Night Before Christmas” and dedicated it to the memory of my finicky feline. We laughed at the parts that were “just like Jasper”. And A asked, “Are you going to still write Jasper’s books?” To which I assured him that the stories are still here even if Jasper’s not there to climb on the keyboard while I try to type them.

For now, I prepare for my next feline roommate(s). Between the fact that field mice have a peculiar appreciation to my home and the realization that it’s pretty sad being the only breathing body in the house…I figure…why not. I’m sure Jasper would expect a new feline (or two) to rule his realm. I mean, Miss Fuzzy Hair can’t take care of his kingdom without whiskered help. And…I could just imagine him saying, “Yep, it’ll take two cats to replace me…cause let’s face it…I was King!” jasper bye

The Cat, the Myth, the Legend…

On a warm sunny day in June 2007, Connor & I ventured to Madison KDH Clinic for me to pick between one of two kittens. For those who’ve read “Kitten Chronicles”, you know that the active one peed on Connor, and the other had beautiful markings and slept calmly. The urine vetoed Connor’s first choice, so he & I agreed that the other would be the best pick for my house-mouser.

For a few years, he was a hospitable pet accepting Connor and other guests into our home. However, the summer when Connor spent most of it at home with his father instead of his “favorite aunt” (self-proclaimed…haha), Jasper changed his disposition. He transformed from an animated pet to a persnickety protector of his realm.

His antics have entertained the masses….or at least a decade of third graders, Facebook friends, and family. He’s been the subject of many writing lessons and animated storytelling illustrations in Room 302. In fact, he became the muse to finally kick-start my “one day” dream into reality. “Jasper’s ABC Book” and “Kitten Chronicles” have both sold over 100 copies in the 4 and 3 months they’ve been published. His behaviors and reactions have created chapter titles for three more chapter books as well as four more picture books.

However, life on Main Street started changing this past weekend. Saturday morning, I noticed he was breathing oddly and clenching his stomach muscles. Since he’s known for liking to chew…anything and everything, I guessed he had eaten something he shouldn’t and was having difficulty digesting. I figured it would come out…one way or the other. (Sorry for the image). Then, as I returned home from church Sunday afternoon, I realized his behavior wasn’t normal. His movement was slow, and his napping position less comfortable. I requested an appointment on Monday with his veterinarian figuring they may have to do a procedure to remove whatever he’d eaten that was causing his problems. Yet, on Sunday night, I realized it was worse than that. He jumped up on the bed, as usual, but his meow wasn’t the “I’m here, so pet me” meow…but an “I’m in pain” meow. With tears in my eyes, I pet him, and he lay his head down in my palm. Then, jumped down and left the room.

I was predicting that he would be gone when I awoke, but alas…he was still trying to rest, but not himself. So, I spent the day in 302 awaiting his 3:30 appointment and preparing my heart and mind to be able to do what needed to done that afternoon. So, as I scurried to my car, I pondered whether he’d still be waiting when I walked in the house.

I easily put him in his carrier, which in itself shouted “this is it”. He cried a couple of times on the way to the car, then rode to the vet clinic silently. We waited….he silently sat as he breathed laboriously.

Then, the attentive veterinarian and her assistant removed him from the carrier and examined him thoroughly. As she tried to take his temperature, he was refusing to allow it. I reached out and placed my palm on his face to scratch his neck, and she was instantly allowed to accomplish her task. As I watched their facial expressions, I knew. Then came the words I hadn’t expected….heart failure.

After hearing what treatment would be, aftercare would be, and the impact on my lively roommate, I knew I had to do the hardest thing a pet owner must do. Let him go. He’s much too proud and too lively a cat to adjust to the possible life IF all that actually helped. So, I sat…holding his head and petting him as he finally let go of his pain.

In the end, I’m okay. Yes, the tears com…here and there and range from slight tears to ugly sobbing…like right now as I share this weekend’s journey with you. But, with it comes the joy of realizing that his stories are still here. He wasn’t a normal pet whose name you remember but not much more. I could tell you only a few things about Moses, Samson, Shadrach, and Bucky (other cats I’ve had during high school and after), but Jasper? Shoot! Have I told you about…

Let’s face it. To some he will be “just a cat” and they won’t understand why tears fall. But…to my students…to his fans…to those who’ve laughed or been shocked by his behaviors….

Like chasing the mailman down the sidewalk…

Keeping grown men from entering my house without either a spray bottle for protection or a promise that he was locked up….

Or the fact that he could stretch out on my legs and touch both my hip and my foot with his paws…

They’ll understand when I say….

Heart failure may have stolen his life
like an unexpected tornado,
but his legendary reputation
will never die.

Jasper, thanks for trying to rid our home of field mice, protecting it from intruders (mailmen, landlords, and other visitors), inspiring me to chase the dream of writing, and being a part of my heart for now and forever.

Good-bye, my feline friend, I love you.

12-18

June, 2007
to
December 17,
2018

More Than Mean

Have you ever known someone who is known for only one aspect of their personality? For instance, when former students are asked, most will say “Miss P was the teacher with the funny voices.” Obviously, I do more in Room 302 than speak in different voices, but that’s what stands out because it makes me different from a lot of other teachers.

Now, Jasper…he’s obviously known for being a less-than-hospitable feline. He’s known for hissing, swatting, clawing, and occasionally spitting at unwanted guests, relatives, landlords, house repairmen, roofers, mail carriers, and…you get the picture. So, it was simple to use an arrogant and demanding feline voice for “Jasper’s ABC Book”.

However, he’s more than mean. He can be sweet, at least to me. Once upon a time, he was also sweet towards my nephew. In fact, on October 7th, a FB memory from ten years ago showed Connor with his arm around Jasper, his head leaning on him, and quoting him as saying that “Jasper is nicer than my cat.” I quickly sent the pic and quote to Connor to remind him of a time when Jasper liked people who visited our house.

I think over the past ten years since it’s 99% me & Jasper only in the house, not including an occassional field mouse, wasp, moth, or cricket that sneak in. When you get used to not having other living creatures around, it seems that you gain an attitude of “This is my kingdom and you’re not invited.”

Now, this cat who hisses and swats and has become known for his dominant ways…is only that way when others come.

Many evenings, he jumps up on my lap and either laps on my legs, my students’ work, or my lap.

At night, he’ll often curl up beside me and lay his head on my hand.

While I shower, he generally moves his nap to the purple rug in the bathroom.

While I cook, he’ll relax on the rug by the kitchen sink.

In the midst of fall cleaning, he’ll jump in empty drawers, lay on newly made beds, and follow me from room to room until the vacuum starts to roar.

On Wednesday, while having his annual check-up and vaccinations at North Madison Veterinary Clinic, another veterinarian was amazed at the stories of his behavior towards others.

You see….he’d known for being “mean” but he is also protective, sweet, and a seeker of company….on his terms…in his time.

Now, this makes me think of a discussion my Bible study group had last night. We so often just see God as a “Loving Father” because…He is. But…He’s also so much more! He’s also…Just….Righteous….Holy…Jealous…Sovereign. If we just look at one aspect of who He is….we will miss out on what a Mighty and Great God we serve!

So….I’m more than a teacher who makes funny voices…I’m also an author who writes in the voice of an arrogant cat…I’m a friend who tries to be there for the people I care about…I’m a church member who serves in various ministries…I’m a daughter who spends time with her parents…I’m an aunt who has a one-of-a-kind relationship with the “best nephew in the whole entire world”…I’m a follower of Christ who attempts to live out her faith in word and deed.

Oh…I forgot. I’m the roommate of a cat named Jasper who is known for being (more than) mean.

What are you more than?

“And crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'” Revelation 7:10

Heart failure may have stolen his life like an unexpected tornado, but his legendary reputation will never die.

Good-bye, my feline friend, I love you.

June, 2007 to December 17, 2018

“And crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'”
Revelation 7:10

Heart failure may have stolen his life
like an unexpected tornado,
but his legendary reputation
will never die.

June, 2007
to
December 17,
2018