It is hard this time of year to stay focused on what really counts. The busy, rushed, decorating, gift buying, and baking seems to fill up the time and another day has gone by. We received a Christmas from our Bishop and church leaders (as everyone did in our congregation) just the other day, and it really helped me see that I need to slow down and enjoy the blessings and intangible gifts that my family and I have.
I'd like to share the letter with you. Please forgive me for the lack of creativity on my part. My mind is still too crazy to come up with my own thoughts so I have to steal from others. This is worth the read for everyone...
"The Journey to Christmas"
The month of December is a time of joyful anticipation. The sights, sounds, and smells of the season evoke feelings of excitement and wonder. For generations, children - and grown-ups- have used advent calendars and paper chains to count down the days. But does our focus ever become so fixed on the future that we forget to enjoy the journey to Christmas?
This year, instead of just looking forward, let's also take pleasure in the preparations: in the little, less spectacular moments along the way, even in the spontaneous joys that may, at first, seam like interruptions to our bigger plans. In order to recognize those moments for what they could be, it sometimes helps to slow things down a bit. We may need to shop less and savor more. We mights have to dim the bright lights in order to see the stars in the heavens, but if we look, we will find them.
Often it takes a child to redirect our focus. Think of how much children enjoy the present moments, the preparations, and not just the finished products. When helping to decorate the home, wrap presents, or bake Christmas treats, they usually make more of a mess than we would; they might not do it just right, but they als usually enjoy the moment more than we do! Their enthusiam can be contagious.
A three year old girl, wholeheartedly living in the present, exclaimed: "It's not tomorrow! It's not today! It's "to-now!" When was the last time [we] felt "to-now"?
Yes, we are busy. But the days leading to Christmas are not just to be endured. In fact, perhaps they offer more of what the season is really about. The promise of Christmas is everywhere to behold. It's not saved for Christmas morning. If we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to open, we truly can enjoy the journey to Christmas.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Hair Cutting Assembly
In an earlier post I explained about how our the PE teacher and I were starting a fundraiser for raffle tickets for kids to purchase in hopes to win the chance of cutting our hair.We also planned to donate our hair to Locks of Love. We had our assembly Thursday. Also, my picture was in the local paper with a small blurb next to it. I tried to find it online but couldn't. I suppose I could scan it later and post it. It's just the back of my head with my hair in braids showing the kids sitting in the background. It was cool.
Here are photos from the event. It was fun!
Before, Middle, and After:
Hair has been sent off to Locks of Love, money has been earned to help pay for PE equipment and music instruments . . .
but most of all . . .
Many of the students want to grow their hair out and donate their hair to help other children get hair pieces. That is awesome.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Hair that Cares
It's official. I am shaving my head. Well, shaving it only if my students at school can meet a hefty goal. Let me explain . . .
The P.E. teacher, Coach Bear, and I are trying to earn money for P.E. and music equipment, instruments etc. We came up with a fundraiser sure to raise a lot of $$$$$. We are selling raffle tickets for a chance to cut our hair! Students, or anyone, can purchase tickets and write their name on it. Their tickets are entered into the drawing. The week before Thanksgiving break we will draw four tickets. Those winners will help us cut/shave our hair during an all-school assembly. Two will cut Coach Bear's hair and two will cut mine. (After they "help" us cut our hair, we'll have someone who knows what they are doing to clean it up so it looks like a professional job.)
We are selling the tickets for $0.25 each and they can buy as many as they want. Obviously the more they buy the better their chance to be the lucky winner.
I will only cut my hair if 4,000 tickets are sold. With 565 kids in the school that shouldn't be too hard. 500 kids buy 8 tickets, that's 4,000 sold. You can do the math. If they reach this goal then Coach Bear and I will cut our hair. I will shave my hair to 1 inch. If we sell 6,000 then I will shave it to 1/2 inch. If they meet 8,000 tickets then I will shave it to 1/4" .... almost skin bald but not so.
For Coach Bear, the two that get to cut his hair have the option of deciding how it gets cut. They can choose to shave it all off, to shave a mohawk or something else silly.
I am excited but I also can't believe I am doing this . . . again. For those of you who know me and remember, I shaved my head for the kids about 8 years ago at another school where I worked. This time it's for money. It's exciting because we are essential earning money to purchase needed supplies to better the kids' learn environment in music and physical education classes. This is so important.
But it's more than earning money. We will also donate our hair to Locks of Love. That makes me feel good about doing this. :)
The P.E. teacher, Coach Bear, and I are trying to earn money for P.E. and music equipment, instruments etc. We came up with a fundraiser sure to raise a lot of $$$$$. We are selling raffle tickets for a chance to cut our hair! Students, or anyone, can purchase tickets and write their name on it. Their tickets are entered into the drawing. The week before Thanksgiving break we will draw four tickets. Those winners will help us cut/shave our hair during an all-school assembly. Two will cut Coach Bear's hair and two will cut mine. (After they "help" us cut our hair, we'll have someone who knows what they are doing to clean it up so it looks like a professional job.)
We are selling the tickets for $0.25 each and they can buy as many as they want. Obviously the more they buy the better their chance to be the lucky winner.
I will only cut my hair if 4,000 tickets are sold. With 565 kids in the school that shouldn't be too hard. 500 kids buy 8 tickets, that's 4,000 sold. You can do the math. If they reach this goal then Coach Bear and I will cut our hair. I will shave my hair to 1 inch. If we sell 6,000 then I will shave it to 1/2 inch. If they meet 8,000 tickets then I will shave it to 1/4" .... almost skin bald but not so.
For Coach Bear, the two that get to cut his hair have the option of deciding how it gets cut. They can choose to shave it all off, to shave a mohawk or something else silly.
I am excited but I also can't believe I am doing this . . . again. For those of you who know me and remember, I shaved my head for the kids about 8 years ago at another school where I worked. This time it's for money. It's exciting because we are essential earning money to purchase needed supplies to better the kids' learn environment in music and physical education classes. This is so important.
But it's more than earning money. We will also donate our hair to Locks of Love. That makes me feel good about doing this. :)
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The Funny Things he says . . . .
Jerricho's Kindergarten year is underway. He is going to the school where I work and I am hearing all the stories! I have to write all the things he is saying down before I forget them. So here it goes.
It's the first day of school. Jerricho is in his classroom. There is an E.A. (education assistant) in his classroom helping his teacher. His job is to color a paper doll version of himself, then cut out the whole body. He proceeds to color it (all one color), then cut it out. He cuts off every body part. He cuts off the feet, the hands, the legs, the hair and the head. So, the E.A. helps him tape it all together. When she finally gives it back to him in one piece he holds it up high and announces to the class "Yeah, my body had surgery and I'm all better". Now, while the E.A. was taping up Jerricho's body, the other kids were saying "teacher teacher" over and over to their teacher - like only little kids can do. Jerricho noticed that the E.A. was getting irritated by all that and he said to her waving his hand in her face, "Don't worry about them, worry about ME".
Oy vey.
Next day: A few of the 5th Grade girls have taken it upon themselves to play Mother Hen. They dote on Jerricho. (He milks it. He's got them wrapped around his little finger.) They are the ones coming up and telling so many things because they think he is so hilarious:
*They asked him, "Is your name Jerricho?" He said, "NO, it's Jerricho SSAAANNDDEERRSSS".
*He referes to the girls as "MY big girls. They are my sweeties"
*As he was walking in the hallway with his class, he saw another class (a 4th grade class) walking past them. He starts pointing at each student as he says "You're being good, and You're being good and you're being good" to about five of them before his teacher says "Jerricho, sshhhhh".
*At breakfast in the cafeteria, while sitting with "his girls", the girls were talking about an ant. They asked "Jerricho if he liked ants. He said, "I have an Aunt. It's Aunt Solomon".... (what?) Then he tells them he is going to squish the ants.
*There are other little comments that he says that I can't recall now, but I am either laughing or shaking my head and wondering "What is he thinking?" or "Where does he get all this from?"
BUT, here's the kicker: This morning I had my second choir rehearsal of the year. He has to stay in my room for the first ten minutes of rehearsal before he is allowed to go the the cafeteria to eat breakfast. I sat him down near the door and I told him that he was to sit still and stay quiet until it was time to leave. I made it very clear that he couldn't be a distraction to my group while I was teaching. Anyway, I begin warm ups. I am at the piano, the kids are vocalizing and I notice some of them begin to laugh as they are looking in Jerricho's direction. The poor kids were trying their hardest not to laugh for fear of getting in trouble. So I look over at Jerricho and he has his backpack unzipped and pulled over his head. I even had to laugh even though I was mad at the same time.
Oy Vey.
From his voice inflections, to his facial expression to the way he moves about and to the THINGS HE SAYS . . . that's my child.
It's the first day of school. Jerricho is in his classroom. There is an E.A. (education assistant) in his classroom helping his teacher. His job is to color a paper doll version of himself, then cut out the whole body. He proceeds to color it (all one color), then cut it out. He cuts off every body part. He cuts off the feet, the hands, the legs, the hair and the head. So, the E.A. helps him tape it all together. When she finally gives it back to him in one piece he holds it up high and announces to the class "Yeah, my body had surgery and I'm all better". Now, while the E.A. was taping up Jerricho's body, the other kids were saying "teacher teacher" over and over to their teacher - like only little kids can do. Jerricho noticed that the E.A. was getting irritated by all that and he said to her waving his hand in her face, "Don't worry about them, worry about ME".
Oy vey.
Next day: A few of the 5th Grade girls have taken it upon themselves to play Mother Hen. They dote on Jerricho. (He milks it. He's got them wrapped around his little finger.) They are the ones coming up and telling so many things because they think he is so hilarious:
*They asked him, "Is your name Jerricho?" He said, "NO, it's Jerricho SSAAANNDDEERRSSS".
*He referes to the girls as "MY big girls. They are my sweeties"
*As he was walking in the hallway with his class, he saw another class (a 4th grade class) walking past them. He starts pointing at each student as he says "You're being good, and You're being good and you're being good" to about five of them before his teacher says "Jerricho, sshhhhh".
*At breakfast in the cafeteria, while sitting with "his girls", the girls were talking about an ant. They asked "Jerricho if he liked ants. He said, "I have an Aunt. It's Aunt Solomon".... (what?) Then he tells them he is going to squish the ants.
*There are other little comments that he says that I can't recall now, but I am either laughing or shaking my head and wondering "What is he thinking?" or "Where does he get all this from?"
BUT, here's the kicker: This morning I had my second choir rehearsal of the year. He has to stay in my room for the first ten minutes of rehearsal before he is allowed to go the the cafeteria to eat breakfast. I sat him down near the door and I told him that he was to sit still and stay quiet until it was time to leave. I made it very clear that he couldn't be a distraction to my group while I was teaching. Anyway, I begin warm ups. I am at the piano, the kids are vocalizing and I notice some of them begin to laugh as they are looking in Jerricho's direction. The poor kids were trying their hardest not to laugh for fear of getting in trouble. So I look over at Jerricho and he has his backpack unzipped and pulled over his head. I even had to laugh even though I was mad at the same time.
Oy Vey.
From his voice inflections, to his facial expression to the way he moves about and to the THINGS HE SAYS . . . that's my child.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Great Workout songs
I've been working out at the Nampa Rec Center regularly now and I've come up with some great songs to listen to while I'm working out. I'm always looking for other songs so feel free to add to my list. They are in no particular order:
•Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
•I'm so paid remix - Lil Wayne
•Eminem – Lose Yourself
•Somewhere I Belong - Linkin Park
•In the End – Linkin Park
•All along the watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
•Amerika – Rammstein
•Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit
•Hey Boy Hey Girl – Chemical Brothers
•Loser - Beck
•Dirty Little Secret - The All-American Rejects
•Faint- Linkin Park
•You Know My Name- Chris Cornell
•Bust a Move - Young MC
•Blitzkrieg - Metallica
•Highway to Hell - AC/DC
•Alive - Pearl Jam
•Bleed It Out - Linkin Park
•Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake
•Into the Flood - Deepfield
•In Da Club – 50 Cent
•Real Slim Shady – Eminem
•Harder to Breathe – Maroon 5
•Like a Prayer – Madonna
•When I Grow Up - Pussycat Dolls
•Beat It - Michael Jackson
•Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
•Iron Man - Black Sabbath
•Don’t Stop Believin - Journey
•Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety-Zag – Marilyn Manson
•Bulls on Parade – Rage Against the Machine
•Victory – Puff Daddy ft. Notorious B.I.G
•Rogues – Incubus
•Rock and Roll – Led Zeppelin
•Single Ladies - Beyonce
•Bawtidaba - Kid Rock
•Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
•It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls
•Poker Face – Lady GaGa
•Hush Hush; Hush Hush – Pussycat Dolls
•Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
•The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani, featuring Akon
•When You Were Young - The Killers
•Beautiful Day - U2
•I Ran (So Far Away)- A Flock of Seagulls
•Take On Me - a-ha
•Love Shack - The B-52's
•Mony Mony - Billy Idol
•My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
•Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
•Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
•Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
•Just Like Heaven - The Cure
•Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndee Lauper
•Modern Love - David Bowie
•You Spin Me Round - Dead or Alive
•Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
•Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant
•A Little Respect - Erasure
•Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
•We Got The Beat - The Go-Go's
•White Lines - Grandmaster Flash
•Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
•I Love Rock N' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
•Footloose - Kenny Loggins
•Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
•Celebration - Kool and the Gang
•Our House - Madness
•Material Girl - Madonna
•Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
•Girls, Girls, Girls - Motley Crue
•Blue Monday - New Order
•Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
•Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul
•Kiss - Prince
•It's the End of the World as We Know It - R.E.M.
•It Takes Two - Rob Base
•Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
•Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
•Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic
•Situation - Yaz
•Don't Go - Yaz
•We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel
•In the Mood - Jive Bunny & the Master Mixers
•Helter Skelter - The Beatles
•Twist and Shout - The Beatles
•Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
•I'm so paid remix - Lil Wayne
•Eminem – Lose Yourself
•Somewhere I Belong - Linkin Park
•In the End – Linkin Park
•All along the watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
•Amerika – Rammstein
•Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit
•Hey Boy Hey Girl – Chemical Brothers
•Loser - Beck
•Dirty Little Secret - The All-American Rejects
•Faint- Linkin Park
•You Know My Name- Chris Cornell
•Bust a Move - Young MC
•Blitzkrieg - Metallica
•Highway to Hell - AC/DC
•Alive - Pearl Jam
•Bleed It Out - Linkin Park
•Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake
•Into the Flood - Deepfield
•In Da Club – 50 Cent
•Real Slim Shady – Eminem
•Harder to Breathe – Maroon 5
•Like a Prayer – Madonna
•When I Grow Up - Pussycat Dolls
•Beat It - Michael Jackson
•Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
•Iron Man - Black Sabbath
•Don’t Stop Believin - Journey
•Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety-Zag – Marilyn Manson
•Bulls on Parade – Rage Against the Machine
•Victory – Puff Daddy ft. Notorious B.I.G
•Rogues – Incubus
•Rock and Roll – Led Zeppelin
•Single Ladies - Beyonce
•Bawtidaba - Kid Rock
•Shut Up and Let Me Go - The Ting Tings
•It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls
•Poker Face – Lady GaGa
•Hush Hush; Hush Hush – Pussycat Dolls
•Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
•The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani, featuring Akon
•When You Were Young - The Killers
•Beautiful Day - U2
•I Ran (So Far Away)- A Flock of Seagulls
•Take On Me - a-ha
•Love Shack - The B-52's
•Mony Mony - Billy Idol
•My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
•Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
•Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
•Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
•Just Like Heaven - The Cure
•Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndee Lauper
•Modern Love - David Bowie
•You Spin Me Round - Dead or Alive
•Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
•Electric Avenue - Eddy Grant
•A Little Respect - Erasure
•Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
•We Got The Beat - The Go-Go's
•White Lines - Grandmaster Flash
•Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
•I Love Rock N' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
•Footloose - Kenny Loggins
•Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
•Celebration - Kool and the Gang
•Our House - Madness
•Material Girl - Madonna
•Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
•Girls, Girls, Girls - Motley Crue
•Blue Monday - New Order
•Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
•Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul
•Kiss - Prince
•It's the End of the World as We Know It - R.E.M.
•It Takes Two - Rob Base
•Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions
•Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
•Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic
•Situation - Yaz
•Don't Go - Yaz
•We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel
•In the Mood - Jive Bunny & the Master Mixers
•Helter Skelter - The Beatles
•Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Family slideshow from 2009
One of my favorite songs to go with my favorite people! These slideshows are a part of the recent past but I still love watching it.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
American Tears - patriotic - FDR Choir
This is one of the songs that my choir sang on March 17th for their Patriotic Program. I made this powerpoint and showed it as they performed the song for their parents. Unfortunately the slide show froze and the audience was not able to watch it completely. So here it is for those who want to watch it and listen to my choir. I have a couple of soloists in this song. They are great singers!
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