I am a mess!

It's Holy Week. And, I am a mess! What a difficult month...and it's just half over. First, I cannot explain how much the killings at the Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom have impacted me. Who would think that 115th and Nall was a dangerous place to be on a Sunday afternoon? I have been at the community Center a number of times. Everything that I know of the people and place tells me that it was a haven for families and students, supported by Jews and Gentiles alike. What sense can we make of such random violence? Truly, perhaps, our world has gone mad. And at Village Shalom....a woman visiting her mother as she did every Sunday...a Catholic, an occupational therapist. It strikes too close to home. She was my age. She visited her mother every Sunday. I did that for my dad. Who will explain the tragedy to her mother? Who will hold her hand and comfort her? Who will visit her every Sunday? She left three adult children and they will carry on...as I hope mine would do. It's too hard. Where does this violence come from? How does one hate someone simply on the basis of a religion? Or a language? Can we teach our children to be better than we have been? I am reminded of Dr. King's quote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." As the Newtown Parents have often said, "love wins." Always. Every time. That is a difficult thing to hold on to in these dark days. And, our school. Our lovely, precious community of learners. We are closing. As that fact has sunk in, we have all become sad, and perhaps a bit bitter. And yet, our students persevere. They put on a fabulous show in Spamalot. I had my doubts at first. Monty Python? Really? But, who could not laugh? The students gave their all...they worked countless hours to master lyrics and dances that they had never heard of or performed. Every single student made me proud to be associated with Archbishop O'Hara High School. Who possibly thinks that closing our school is a good idea? Where in Kansas City could one find such a warm, loving, supportive community? Kids on stage with special needs...Kids who are top in their class academically. Athletes. Non athletes. Geeks. Robotics kids. Nerds. Popular kids. Not so popular kids. Transfer students. Students who started at OHS four years ago. Freshmen. Seniors. Somehow, each has found a home at O'Hara. It was incredible. And, someone, somewhere thinks it's a good idea to close us? A school that literally screams community to all who will listen. A school that stands vibrantly strong in the face of the kinds of hatred that drove the killings at the Jewish Community Center. Do we have our problems? Of course! What community of 300 does not? There are kids who do what they shouldn't...and adults too. But, we make it work. Our students are confident, successful, happy, loving, committed to peace and justice. We love each other. And, yet we are closing. There are teachers who have lost their jobs. And, students who love those teachers. What do we say to them? How do we heal? It's been a tough month. And, we are not quite through. But, it's Holy Week. The Passion of our Lord is before us. Somehow we hold to hope. We hold to the promise that tomorrow will be better. And, we commit our heart and strength to making it so.

A Wonderful Post

http://pursuitofajoyfullife.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/what-students-remember-most-about-teachers/

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!

October

Wow.  My last post was on Father's Day....June.  That's almost four months ago.  As I grow older, time seems to literally go by faster.  I had always heard that truism from my aunts, but I now believe it.  How can it be that I am starting my 30th year as a teacher at Archbishop O'Hara?  How can it be that I have three children, ages 21, 23, and 25.

Somehow I let the first year anniversary of my dad's death pass by.  Jack and Phil and I gathered in Jefferson City last Saturday and finally settled Dad's estate.  I don't see them as much as I would like.   Somehow we are all too busy living our lives to spend much quality time with each other.  I have vowed to drag them, kicking and screaming, if necessary, into more "quality time opportunities."  Dad always made time for his sister and their families; and I am desperately trying to keep up the tradition, planning another trip to Iowa this very weekend.  Iowa and my aunt's farm have become an anchor for me in many ways.  Mom and Dad moved from our family home in 2002 and although they had a lovely home in Jefferson City, it was never, quite home.  But, somehow, my aunt Barbara's farm in Iowa is that anchor.  I grew up there.  My kids grew up there.  And, although Aunt Barbara is 95, I still find solace and comfort in her "place."  I can't wait to see Aunts Betty and Barbara!