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...

I'm a big dramatic arts fan, in other words I enjoy TV and movies a lot. I love getting lost in the stories and connecting to the characters. There isn't a genre I don't like, although I don't like everything in that genre. Netflix is one of my favorite things. A dvd store that comes to me, brilliant! Not only can I get DVDs in the mail but I can stream, instant watching, which is convenient and addicting. The newest thing on my Netflix instant queue is Harper's Island, a one time series of 13 episodes. Think of it as an extended mini-series. If you like Agatha Christie and Stephen King then this is the show for you. I like the suspense and horror that Harper's Island brings. It's clever and very "And Then There Were None." The premise is of a wedding party/guests sailing to Harper's Island, where 7 years ago a psycho went on a murdering spree killing several people including the main character's (Abby) mother. Abby hasn't return...

As the world watched, Japan for the first time in their history won against the United States in the Women's World Cup. It was not an easy victory. For the first half USA dominated the flow of the game. Japan barely got their feet on the ball. Though US controlled the ball they missed several well set up goals, which turned out to be their downfall. The first half ended 0-0. The second half was just as intense as the first. Finally Alex Morgan in the 69th minute scored the first goal of the game. It was an amazing drive. With about 20 minutes left Japan rapidly became very aggressive. It was as if roles had reversed. US was known to be slow in the 1st half and attack in the 2nd, now Japan has turn the tables. They knew where to go and who to guard, in particular Abby Wambach and her golden forehead. They found their life line in the 81st minute with a US defense error that turned into a goal opportunity which Aya Miyama took. Overtime was twice the intensity, everyone at the...

So we had a little excitement and inconvenience today (Saturday). Very early this morning I was startled awake by the sound of what I thought to be giant clanging metal trash cans. I figured that it was the cleaning truck and I went back to sleep. Now the fact that our garbage cans are plastic and trash day was Friday, didn't ready occur to me until I woke up an hour later and saw all the flashing lights of police cars and fire trucks. Now nothing had caught fire and no crime had been committed so what could have cause such a collection of lights? Several power lines had fallen all along our side of the street. The whole block had been tape off and they were not letting any vehicles in or out. I looked out the window and saw the police tape run from the no parking sign pole next door right over my car and tied up to our entrance gate. It looked like we were under house arrest or part of a crime scene. There were many wires hanging down and there were at least four wires that had ...

As we all gather together with family and friends enjoying great company, delicious all-american barbecue and spectacular fireworks let's reflect on what brought us here. Our country since the day of its inception has been full of dreams, ambition, spirit and pride. Seeing an injustice done to them they rebelled and fought to be free. Arming themselves with godly leadership and unsure of the outcome they marched forward and fought. Even when it seemed dim they persevered remembering what it was they were fighting for, FREEDOM. Freedom is such an important word for us. It's the foundation of our entire country. Without that desire of being independent we would have no USA. One of the definitions of freedom is: free will, the ability to make one's own choices. As a nation they willed to have a better way of life. They chose to believe that any risk was worth the sacrifice. That spirit has resonated throughout the decades. Each generation has taken upon itself an injusti...