Some teachers take extravagant trips for the summer.  Some teachers plan family travels.  Others will go on spontaneous adventures.

Not me.  I….set fun-for-me goals.  Last summer, I had a reading goal, writing goal, cooking goal, and exercise goal.  I achieved all 4. Whoop!  Whoop!

So…this summer, friends kept asking if I was going anywhere or had any big plans.  Nope.  I have Jodi-plans to achieve summer-goals.  So, as summer started three weeks ago, I wrote them out.  I realized yesterday it was time to revisit, update, and/or revise.

On the evening of the last teacher-day, I wrote these.
1. Read 10 “just-for-the-pleasure-of-reading” books.
–I’ve already read 5!  Maybe I should up this to 15?

2. Plan out writing instruction since the new schedule has a specified time each day rather than squeezing it in.
–Based on the “stimulating” PD I attended the day after I wrote this, it seems our new ELA curriculum actually has writing instruction planned as well.  So, I suppose I’ll just combine that with the Smekens writing calendar…and see how they mesh.  However, this won’t happen until I return to 302 and have my ELA materials to help.

3. Finish writing “Becoming the Beast”.
–I completed my reread and revisions earlier this week (woohoo!) and shared it with editor #1 (aka my sister) to check for writing mechanics. Then, it’ll go to editor #2 and editor #3 in hopes of getting it ready to publish before the new school year begins.

4. At least start, “Feline Finale”.
     –Okay, I told myself I couldn’t start this one until after VBS.  So, this writing goal won’t commence until June 29.

5. Write “Jasper’s 12 Gifts of Christmas Break” by the end of June, so Connor can spend July on illustrations.
–Complete!  I shared it with both him and his mom, which happens to be my sister who checks for writing errors.  Hopefully, he’ll complete illustrations by the end of July, so I can do the prep work before school begins on August 8th.

6. Try 8 new recipes.
–Well, I’ve already tried FIVE, so this one will be achieved in no time.  Of course, now I’m pondering whether I should double it?  Hmmm…

7. Workout a minimum of 3 times per week, but shoot for more.
–I’ve hit the 3 but not the “or more”.  Who knew toes, ankles, and knees got irked so easily.

8. Go out to lunch with a friend once every pay rotation.
— On target with this one.  In fact, I’ve done lunch once a week instead.  Hmm, actually, I generally eat lunch every day instead of once a week.  I just eat at a restaurant with a friend at least once each week.

9. Take naps as often as I want to.
— Is there any doubt that I’ll keep at this on?  I love sleep.  It’s one of my three favorite verbs.  Just ask any of my kiddos, and they will verify.

10. Stay out of my room until after my birthday.
–Okay….this one will be getting revised.  Let’s’ face it.  Last year, I already had my library organized and computer set back up by now.  So, I’ll change it to….I won’t go back into my classroom until July.  

Goals are good.  I set them with my students, so it makes sense to set them for myself.

What’s your goal? For today?  For the year/?  Set a goal and AIM!

 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”
Proverbs 21:5

Of course in the end, I know…

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 16:9

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:6

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. While I sat up my book sale table, two retired Southwestern teachers came over to offer assistance and encouraging words. Thanks, Patti & Marsha!
4. 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.
5. 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!
6. Those same Madison teachers invited me to join them at their lunch table.
7. As I endured a longer-than-expected business session, my nephew and picture-book illustrator interacted with me via text messages.  Thanks, Connor!
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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?

“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.