10 Things I Learned in 2013

10 Things I Learned (or relearned) in 2013

1.  Family is important. I had a chance to visit with my two elderly aunts in 2013 and miscellaneous cousins.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I have plans to visit both aunts again and my aunt in Tennessee and uncle in California.   I especially enjoy hanging out with my brothers, even more now that my dad is gone.  I wish them happiness and peace in the coming year.  I would love to plan another trip with them in the coming year.

2.  The more things change the more they stay the same. Students, teachers, classes have a particular consistency across time and space. The technology and culture change, but the issues of learning how to think and be are constant. Kids need good teachers and office politics will always produce drama.  And, until we do open a new school, we keep teaching those who come to us.

3.  No matter how old your kids are, they need their mom...and dad.

4.  It's hard to lose weight (but it's worth the struggle).

5.  Going to the gym really does make me feel better.

6.  I love animals.  I never thought I could love a dog as much as I love my two fearless constant companions, Grady and Kirby. No matter what kind of a day I've had or how tired I am, they are there to greet me, acting as though I'm the best thing that's ever happened to them.   I am no more happily at peace than sitting in the big chair with my two pups.

7.  Friends are important!  One of my friends is battling breast cancer and another lost her ex husband recently.  Other friends have dealt with the loss of parents and jobs.  It's important to show up and be there for each other, now more than ever.

8.  Technology is great but it's just a tool, albeit a sophisticated one, that students must learn how and when to use appropriately.

9.  I get my best teaching ideas from twitter.

10.  Duck Dynasty is irrelevant to my quality of life....as is Kim Kardashian, while Pope Francis is most definitely relevant and refreshing, inspiring me to hope that our church can be the force for good in the world that Jesus intended it to be.


Here's to 2014!  Onward and upward!

Words for 2014

Matt recently took a Leadership class at Rockhurst last semester.  They were challenged to write a "vision statement."  I'd seen Stephen Covey's work on vision and mission statements and so I decided to write my own, which my son later shared with his classmates (Thanks, Matt).

Cherishing family, always learning, striving to be a part of the solution.  

What do you think?

Now, I am working on a one word or phrase for 2014, after reading Gretchen Rubin's Happier at Home blog in which she confesses to being "stuck" trying to think of a word or phrase for 2014.  I haven't narrowed mine down yet....I do have one more day.  Some ones I am pondering.

Grace (looking for the moments, the people, the places that grace our lives)
Strive
Thrive
Live (in the moment)
Cherish (today, tomorrow, family, job, friends)
Serendipity (I have always LOVED that word and enjoy looking for the occasions of serendipity in my life.)
Peace
Joy (in the little things)
Embrace
Dare
Kind (which is what I am always urging my kids and students to be)

Um....I will have to see which ones speak to me tomorrow.

The Butterfly Effect....Simply Astounding

Where Are You Reading Challenge, 2014?

I ran across this great idea from a book blogger that I follow.  You can read about her Where Are You Reading Challenge here.http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/challenges/where-are-you-reading-challenge-2014/  I have embedded my book map to the right.  I will update beginning in 2014.  I put a couple of locations on map to begin!  I'm reading John Grisham's Sycamore Row and will try to add another Mississippi book later in 2014!