Love-Hate-Relationships!

As I sit here with the head of RockyTop on my ankle as he sleeps, I was thinking about my throbbing headache. It’s hard not to think about it when it’s so irritating. It occurred to me that I have a love-hate-relationship with my allergies.

How could I love them, you ask? Well, I love many of the things I’m allergic too. I love the beauty of nature, but alas…it’s nature that makes me sneeze. I love to see a freshly mowed lawn, but alas….the mowing of yards make me sneeze and my eyes water. Get it?

Then, I thought of my personal joke about being a human barometer. I tell friends and students that I can predict a weather change as it generally prompts a headache. I love a good storm, as long as it doesn’t knock out the electricity. I enjoy a cool rain, but the change from one type to another triggers a reaction.

This transitioned into thinking about my feline roomies. One is sleeping by my legs on my recliner, but the other sleeps in a chair by the kitchen windown. BlackTop just came home from two nights at the veterinarian and his lungs screamed all the way home. I kid you not he’s the loudest cat I’ve ever experienced inside the house. Sadly, he’s not meowed much since getting home. He’s either mad at me or still feeling the aftermath of his procedure. I hate the volume of his meow, but I’d gladly take it now over his feline body not feeling grand and his inability to convey what’s bothering him.

Thinking of my cats made me think of my quote about why I have them. You see, I hate cat hair on my clothes and cleaning kitty litter…or sweeping it up….or stepping on it. Alas, I hate field mice and droppings oh-so-much-more! So, I love cat hair and kitty litter in comparison to my disdain for mouse droppings!

All these ponderings lead me to my classroom. I started thinking about a few challenges I’m dealing with like lying and irresponsibility. Yet, even with my students who are most challenged with these two issue, I love them. I accept them and realize…we’re just not there YET.

In the end, as usually happens, all of this falls to the foot of the cross as it becomes an analogy of me to God. You see, I know with all my heart that He HATES when I sin. He doesn’t allow it in His perfect kingdom. Yet, He loves me. How much? He loved me so much that He sent His one & only Son to pay my debt…on the cross.

So…in the end, I am thankful for my allergies because they too can be used for my good & His glory.

Note: There was a delay in finishing today’s post because my post-surgery kitten needed a bit of cuddling to get his purr-motor restarted.

My Teacher’s Mug Runneth Over

As a student, I had a certain image of a teacher. I had the notion they were “off” all summer and walked into school the first day to teach…just like us.

I was clueless as to what teachers, especially elementary teachers, fit in quote do each year during the summer before the school year begins. I had no idea the amount of personal money and “free” time that elementary teachers devoted to preparing for students.

Guess what? Now I do. Personally, I was proud of myself this summer. Why? I left my school on June 4th after a not-so-helpful training day and didn’t reenter Room 302 until July 4. For some, this may seem odd to be proud of going in a month before school begins. However, in the past, I’ve been known to “take two weeks off” then start my room set-up as soon as the “all-clear” came from our custodians. I’ve learned that “all clear” means the floors are waxed and “stuff” is back inside.

So, on July 4th, my cleaning supplies, boxes of materials, [I pretty much pack up my room at the end of the year to force me to reorganize and get rid of stuff.] and I spent some quality hours together. I manipulated myself by telling myself if I “was ready enough” by July 15th, then I’d not return until August 6th.

Well, I was “ready enough”, but the lure of preparing pulled me back in on August 1st. Then, on Wednesday, August 7th, from 5pm-7pm I met almost all of my students and a family member or more. Then, August 8th, at 7:45…my 24th year in third grade kickstarted.

Granted, it’s only been four days, but what a wonderfully spectacular four days we’ve had. I’ve been dubbed “the best third grade teacher I’ve ever had” and “the most fun teacher” by one or more students. My fan club of my oral reading skills has grown. One student even told me his mom, who once worked in our building, would stop by my class in the hallway to enjoy my read alouds.

Some think once you’ve been teaching the same grad level for this long, you aren’t being challenged. However, I challenge myself each other to start something new, to change something that can be improved, and to ditch something unneeded.

Our superintendent challenged us to focus on building relationships in the midst of teaching our curriculum. Let’s face it, no one learns much from someone s/he doesn’t respect or someone that s/he thinks doesn’t care about him/her. That has spurred me to engage my third graders in more conversations about non-curriculum chats to get to know them. It’s made me laugh, smile, and at times get a little teary.

I also try to pull in a lot of choices for my kids to have a say in what we do or what they read (when possible). One of the ways I’m giving them choices this year is by letting them pick their morning greeting. Last year, it was a fist bump for all. This year, they choose.

I’ve learned an important bit of information. What’s that you ask? Well, my 49-year-old body isn’t prepared to dab first thing of the morning. The past few days, I’ve only dabbed once or twice. Today? I think I dabbed at least a half dozen times. Another half dozen are big fans of starting the day with a hug. I did have one taker on “do a little dance” which is great because it gives a teacher who loves to laugh the right to be goofy in the hallway!

Another new thing I’ve pulled in is a “monthly challenge” for my students. This month’s is easy as it’s a Me-Collage like Judy Moody does in her first book. Other months they’ll be challenged to read an author they’ve never read or a genre that they don’t think they’re fans of at this point. I told them that each challenge I give them will likewise be a challenge for me as well. For instance, I’m not a fan AT ALL of historical fiction and science fiction [Seriously, I started making myself watch Star Wars movies last year when a fellow teacher was a big fan.], but I told them I’ll “make” myself read one that month in case my tastes have changed.

I could go on, but I really just need to get to the whole reason I wanted to write this post to begin with and that is….my new year. I don’t know if it’s my new crop of kiddos, the new schedule for my grade level, or the fresh attitude for a fresh school year….but I feel so blessed with this new crop of kiddos. I know everyday won’t be a breeze, but attitude makes such big difference. I may have done this 23 years previously, but this 24th year has the making of one of my best years yet! And for that reason….as well as the other things above….My teacher’s mug is running over!

Marriage Thoughts from a Sincere Single…

I’ve realized this week how comfortable I’ve become at “being single”. Last week, my map app and I headed out to a student’s birthday party on a road I’d never been on in my memory. Then, on Sunday, we ventured out again to go to a house where I had been to with someone else driving. The map app was wrong, but I was able to figure it out. Then, on Thursday, I ventured to a funeral….solo. No family or friend meeting me there….I went and witness a sentimental funeral for a lady who was dearly loved, and I was able to give a big hug to a former student. Then today, I once again drove somewhere independently to attend a wedding…solo. At this point, I’ve done weddings, funerals, and dinners out by myself. The other challenge left would be….going to the movie. But really….why spend that much money when I can sit in a recliner with two cuddly felines on my lap a few months later? I mean…really.

Now, to get on target (I didn’t get much sleep last night…can you tell?), I attended one of the sweetest marriage cermonies that I can recall. The wedding was lovely, but the focus on the actual marriage was what stood out.

From the fact that the groom “went to get” the bride as scripture specifies…or the tradition of “hand-fasting” during the vows. Each aspect of the wedding was thought out for a purpose. Then, at one point, the one officiating the ceremony asked all who were married or had been married to stand up. He pointed to them as examples and as resources this sweet young couple could go to for encouragmeent and guidance.

Now, if you know me, you know I have plenty of thoughts on marriage, even if I’ve never been married. I’ve seen many of my friends and both of my sisters marry. Likewise, I’ve witnessed a sister and friends who have lost a spouse. I’ve also seen marriages “lose the glue” and not be able to reconnect before ending the union. Here’s what I’ve learned from my observations….

Laugh. Life is serious. There will be lots of big serious moments in your journey together, but never lose the laughter. Don’t let the hard times steal your joy of being together. Now, knowing this couple as briefly as I have, I am quite certain that laughter will be plenty.
Accept the sad times. Don’t run away from them or ignore them. Experience them. Lean on each other, lean on your families (these two are quite blessed in this area), and lean on your faith. In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart…He HAS overcome this world. He is the original promise keeper. The trouble will come, but be assured that He will walk through those storms with you.

There is a time for everything, and a seson for every activity under the heavens:
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… Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
Court each other. Several of the friends who have sadly ended their marriages tended to be the ones who quit “dating”. As much as you relished your time together while you were beginning your relationship, continue to do so. Even when little ones come, don’t lose each other by not setting apart special times for just the two of you. Now this couple will have plenty of aunts, uncles, and grandparents on which to call to watch future little tykes….but if that falls through, I know a teacher who makes funny voices who will be happy to be a pseudo-aunt.
Say “I love you”. Again, the couples I witnessed who didn’t make it….I can’t recall ever hearing those words come out of their mouths directed towards each other. Obviously, they may have said it in the privacy of their house, but say it….whether it’s just the two of you, with your families, or with friends. Say it.“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never ends….When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.”
I Corinthians 13:4-13
Finally, climb the triangle. Many moons ago, I was in college….think early 90s. In my Family Relationships class, I remember a picture lesson the professor drew on the board. At the top of the triangle was Christ and the bottom vertices were the bride and groom. She said, “This is where you begin in your marriage. Look closely and as each of you grow closer in your personal relationship with Christ…the closer you will also be growing to each other.” So, grow in your faith so that you will also grow in your love.

“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

That’s it. I mean, I’m single. Beyond these observations, I can’t really offer much. Learn to eat the favorite foods of your spouse even if it’s not your favorite now. Remember to celebrate anniversaries, events, and even little things. Oh, and if the glue starts discconnecting, seek help…whether the counseling comes from godly parents or Christian counselors….your love and life together is worth fighting for, so don’t give up….You’ve got each other and He’s got you both, so you can do this!

“And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10: 24-25

Simple Smiles…

This morning, as I was paying for my eye exam, I received a simple smile prompted by kind words from the assistant. It triggered a remembrance of a quote a friend and colleague, Shannon Dattilo, posted yesterday on Facebook. beecher quote

The quote became lodged in my head as I went about my errands. I found myself looking for the simple smiles caused by the common sparks of life.

Then, as I returned home, the quote was still in my head, so I decided to find out who said it. I found his name, but I knew nothing about him. In a nutshell, he was a distinguished preacher, founded the Plymouth church, active abolitionist, and was tried for adultery (acquitted and cleared of all charges).

Well, the whole reason I’m writing this post is to share the ease in finding simple smiles in your day by sharing those that have brightened mine in the span of only four hours.

The assistant at the Vision Center noticed my #teacheronbreak shirt and thanked me for being a teacher and the job that I do. I don’t ever remember meeting this kind lady prior, so her words brought a smile.
Then, Dr. Duerstock proclaimed that there were no signs of glaucoma or cataracts and that my eye pressures were….PERFECT! [When you’re as imperfect as me those perfect decrees almost make you squeal.]
Plus, even though Wal-Mart’s new layout is like a scavenger hunt, I found the folding table I wanted to purchase to use for Book Sales without wasting much time.
As I was getting ready to go to Dollar Tree, I looked through my wallet for the gift card my friend Mary gave me for my birthday. I didn’t find it, BUT…I found over $50 that I had stashed in a pocket of my wallet for my trip to WKU back in March. Whoop! Forgotten money that is found always brings a smile.
While in Dollar Tree, I was looking for a few items for a teacher gift, and I found a sign small for my classroom. If I accept it as a sentence in progress, I can deal with the missing capital & punctuation…I think.
Dropped off lunch to my favorite nephew and illustrator, Connor Stewart, and he remembered to bring “The Office” DVDs for me to enjoy this summer. His dad and he often are watching episodes when I pop by their house, so he offered to let me borrow the series’ set that his parents bought him for Christmas.
Arrived at Hanover library to drop off my finished books and pick up my two “holds”. As I approached the desk, the librarian-on-duty automatically walks back to the shelves to pull my books. Yep. the fact that I frequent the library and put books on hold so often that they know me by name gave me a proud smile.
Stopped by Pride Supermarket to grab a homegrown tomato for dinner (smile), and I also saw Danette while there. You don’t see your teacher-friends as often during the summer.
Ran by Jendy’s to grab lunch through the drive-thru and had to wait 10 minutes for pizza, but that assured me it was fresh out of the oven. And…the extra cheese actually looked and tasted like extra cheese.
Finally returned home and as I said something aloud (I have no recollection what since I live solo.) HillTopper came scampering out of wherever he had been resting. He didn’t come at a tired-stretching-walking-pace or a mad-dash-begging-for-food-sprint. It was a cute little scamper which shouted, “I’m so glad you’re home!”
Now, this list could go on and on…sharing little reasons to smile and have joy. But I’ll end it with the common thing of curiosity. If I hadn’t been curious as to who said the quote my friend shared yesterday…I never would’ve found all these other quotes that the internet credits as belonging to Henry Ward Beecher. I thought I’d share them with you at the end of today’s post.

See, smiles are everywhere in the simplest of observations and the practice of kind words of appreciation. Look for them and you’ll find them. Better yet…be the reason that someone else smiles. That will bring a smile to your face as well. Hmmm, maybe this rambling of a #teacheronbreak will bring you a little joy, too.

quote2

A little lesson on forgiveness….

I really like this one.

quote5

Here’s hoping you start each day with FAITH instead of anxiety.

quote4

In honor of my love of puns…

Each day, my two cats will rough-house and start to fight. By the end the day, however, they always HISS & make-up! quote6

#gratitudejournalofjodilea

The Good of Goals…

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

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.

55238-romans-8-28-sq

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!