My Voice, My Heart, My Life

Today was picture day. Parents take extra care to make sure their children look more than presentable. Teachers and staff look extra beautiful or handsome. Everyone is taking note on how they appear. Putting their best face forward. These pictures will forever be part of the school's history. Years from now these pictures will be available for all to see. This morning before coming to work I took extra time to put on make-up. I typically don't wear make-up. I just never got into the routine of it. As I was standing in front of the mirror I started to chuckle. Here I am putting make-up to take a picture that when seen by strangers will think I look like this all the time. I wasn't representing my everyday appearance. I was putting up a "better" version of myself. Covering blemishes, wrinkles(I can't believe I've reached the age of wrinkles!), dark circles and anything that is imperfect. I started to think about how I can be that way in my Christian walk.

Boot Camp - to participate in a rigidly structured routine. That is what the first week of school tends to be. Making sure the routine is ingrained into our minds and our students. It's a new group of kids, a new schedule, new personalities and new beginnings. Each year brings a freshness. The past is left behind and the future lies ahead. The first couple of weeks is a time to laid down the foundation. You set the rules, expectations and the rhythm of the day. Just like boot camp, we as teachers have the job to prepare them so they can have a successful year. There is a lot to learn and a lot to become familiar with especially in Kindergarten. It's a whole new world for them. There is more independence. They get to go to the restroom alone instead of in groups, they bring their own lunches, they have their own lockers, responsible for their own sweaters & jackets and soon will begin doing homework. It's a world of excitement and uncertainty but it's worth the j

I just finished watching the movie "The Help" and it left me a little melancholy. The movie was great and so was the book, read first and watch after, but something about this era in our history always seems to put me in this mood. If you're unaware of what the story is about to put it simple its a fictional story from the perspective of the help in Mississippi during the 1960s. Twelve maids and one white journalist collaborate together to put out a book anonymously about working for the white families in hopes of raising the consciousness of their backyard. The road was not easy but they gained strength and encouragement from each other along the way. What they were doing was illegal. Prison or death was a real possibility, I can't fathom that. These woman had the courage to speak truth when truth was being ignored. The Civil Rights movement was such an essential and powerful time in our country. Death followed many who proclaimed equality. The country was in chaos