I stink at posting.  I admit it.  I have tried so many different things and said, "This is going on the blog!".....and obviously notsomuch.  So, here are a couple of the things I have tried recently and loved!


1) Crock pot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti
1lb Velveeta (I used the Queso Blanco...delicious!)
12 1/2 oz canned chicken drained and flaked (we like lots of chicken...so I used two cans)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 can Rotel
1/2 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
14 1/2 oz cooked spaghetti (roughly one package)


Combine all your ingredients in your crock pot (minus the pasta).  The original instructions did not say to turn it on until later, but I went ahead and turned it on low. Cook your pasta and drain it, then add it to the crock pot.  Stir it well.  Put the lid on and cook on low for 2-3 hours.  That's it!  It was absolutely amazing and it made A LOT.  It freezes well, makes a great pot luck dish, and is very affordable per serving!


2) Yummy Potato Soup (I cannot take credit for this entirely...I stole it from a friend's page...Thanks Barbara!) :)
1/2 (30 oz) bag of frozen hash-brown potatoes (I used the whole bag and I used the kind with onions and peppers already in it)
1 box Au Gratin potatoes with cheese packet
32 oz of Chicken Broth (one box)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup chopped onion or substitute onion powder (don't add this if you use the hash-browns with onions)
1/3 tsp black pepper
1/2 package cream cheese (softened)


Combine all ingredients in crock pot (except for cream cheese).  Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.  With 30 minutes left to cook, add the cream cheese.  Stir occasionally (until combined).  Enjoy!  It makes a wonderfully thick and creamy soup!  I am sure you could add more broth if you preferred it to be "thinner," but I like my potato soup thicker.


Happy crock pot cooking!!!

Yummy Holiday Cakes

I love a good pound cake...especially with a cup of coffee...but I find that they are often super dry.  Well, have no fear!  The perfect pound cake recipe is here!! The magic ingredient is one of my most favorite things ever...cream cheese! I also will be sharing a pumpkin pie cake recipe.  It is so easy and delicious...I dare you not to love it!

1) Cream Cheese Pound Cake (makes one 10" cake)
   1 1/2 cups of butter (softened to room temp)
   1 (8 oz) pkg of cream cheese (softened to room temp)
   3 cups sugar
   6 large eggs
   3 cups of all-purpose flour
   1/8 tsp salt
   1 TBS vanilla extract

Ok. My first note is that you might need an extra set of hands if you don't have a fancy Kitchen Aid mixer.  This makes a lot of batter and it is constant mixing and turning and adding and mixing and turning and adding...you get the idea.  Not impossible, but I was thankful that my handsome husband was willing to help out.

Step one is to cream your butter and cream cheese together.  Don't over mix at this point...there is still a long way and lots of mixing to go...but do make sure most, if not all, your lumps are gone.  When they say softened to room temp...they mean it.  If you try to jump the gun on this step you will be sorely disappointed in the outcome.  Patience is the name of the game for this cake.

Step two is to gradually add the sugar. (This is where the fancy self-mixing mixer comes in handy.)

Step three is to will yourself not to just eat this magical mixture as it is right now and skip the cake. Sooo good!

Step four is to add the eggs one at a time. Make sure one egg is fully mixed in before adding the next.

Step five is flour and salt.  (Sift the flour for best results.)  Combine the salt and flour in a separate bowl and then add gradually to the batter until mixed well.

Step six is vanilla.  If you have the cheap stuff (like I do) you can add a tiny bit more than the TBS the recipe calls for.  If you have the good stuff (especially if it is magical Mexican vanilla) keep it at the above stated amount.

Once all of your ingredients are in and your batter is mixed, pour it into a greased and floured pan (I suggest a bundt pan or multiple loaf pans).  Don't skip the flouring process...these cakes stick easily and this will ensure that your cake(s) come cleanly out of the pan.  Smooth out the mixture, making sure that it is even in the pan.  Now, it gets hard.  Bake at 350 for 1 HOUR AND 40 MINUTES or until your toothpick/cake poking device comes out clean.  That is forever to wait for something so wonderful.  Be careful not to over bake...that leads to drier cake...but you want it to be done.  Let the cake cool in the pan on the cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. (I strongly suggest you get the coffee brewing at this point.) After what seems like an eternity, flip the pan over onto the rack and see your beautiful cake in all it's glory!  Let it cool just a bit longer so that you don't burn your mouth and ruin your ability to enjoy any further bites of cake, but you are only human...so no judgement if you hack into it immediately. :)  Here are some photos of my journey with my new favorite pound cake.

                                                                     Baking...forever.

                                     Beauty.  I used my fancy bundt pan from Williams Sonoma.

  The moist, delicious inside of the cake...shortly after this photo was taken that piece disappeared.

 What my kitchen counter looked like after I finished mixing it up and it went in the oven...epic.

(This is a long post...but here comes cake number two!!)

2) Pumpkin Pie Cake
     2 cans of pumpkin ( or 29oz can)  NOT PUMPKIN PIE FILLING...just PUMPKIN
     4 eggs, beaten
     1 tall can of pet milk
     1 1/2 cup sugar
     2 tsp cinnamon
     1 tsp each of ginger, nutmeg, and allspice
     1 yellow cake mix
     1 cup chopped nuts (or as much as you want)
     1 cup melted butter or margarine
     1 cup coconut (optional)

Beat together your pumpkin, eggs, milk, sugar, and spices (yup sounds just like pumpkin pie).  Pour that mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the pumpkin mixture...as evenly as possible.  Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top of the cake mix, and then sprinkle the nuts on top.  (If you choose to include coconut, add it in the last 30 minutes of baking.)  Bake at 350 for 1 hour, or until set (clean cake poking device).  You can eat this warm or cold...and of course you can top it with cool whip/whipped cream!  This is super easy, incredibly yummy, and a great alternative to regular pumpkin pie. :)

Happy Baking and Happy Holidays!! (I love that I can say that now and it isn't weird!!) :)

What's a month between blogs...

It seems like I am destined to only blog once a month. :/  I could pour out a ton of reasons why I am so behind, but I will spare you.  I am here now...and that's what matters! :)  Plus, I have a super cute helper tonight!

                                                         This is Kitty...she's awesome.


Tonight, I made Nutella cookies!! There are a couple of different recipes out there, but no matter which one you choose the ingredients are simple.

1 Cup Nutella
1 Cup flour
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar***

Mix ingredients together and roll into 1" balls.  Press firmly with the bottom of a glass and bake at 350 for 7-8min or until "set."  I did two things differently tonight.  I didn't add the sugar (not all recipes call for it) and I used the Jif Hazelnut spread (cheaper version of Nutella).

The batter is a bit dry, but get your hands dirty and finish mixing it that way...it's fun and it helps! I would imagine that a fun and fancy KitchenAid mixer would help as well, but I don't have one...so I just dug in. :)  I made my balls bigger than 1"...because I could...so it took a little longer for them to bake.  Mine don't look like the picture from the pin...but they taste yummy!  They definitely don't need the sugar.  However, if yours were ugly looking like mine and you wish to mask that, you can sprinkle some powdered sugar on top for looks and to ramp up the sweetness a bit.  I didn't notice a different in the texture or flavor in using the Jif instead of actual Nutella. So, whatever your preference there you are set!  These are perfect with coffee, ice cream, milk...or coffee ice cream. ;) Enjoy!!

Much delayed but much to share

Alright...let me start by apologizing for the gap in my posts. Obviously I am not a seasoned blogger as of yet.  While the main reason for the delay is forgetfulness, I must also say that I was struggling to locate an ingredient for one of the recipes that I desired to critique.  I mentioned in my last post that I was going to be making taco cupcakes.  Well...didn't happen.  The recipe calls for wonton wrappers and says that they are often in the produce section.  It would seem that my available grocers do not carry said wonton wrappers.  It's either that or I am just missing them...repeatedly...even with employee assistance.  This saddens me on many levels, but primarily because the recipe combines two of my most favorite things (tacos and cupcakes) and I am desperate to try it. Ah, well...some other time.  Instead, I have attempted three other pins that I hope you will enjoy. :)


1) Angel Food Dump Cake
               Ingredients: 1 can of apple pie filling, 1 box of angel food cake mix, sugar,
                                        and cinnamon

It is basically your standard dump cake, but it has a lighter texture.  This is both good and bad.  Good because it is super yummy. Bad because you want to eat so much more of it. You simply mix the dry cake mix with the can of pie filling and pour it into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon and sugar (to taste) and bake 350 (325 if using a glass pan) for 20-30 min.  One of the things it says is to be careful not to over bake.  It is done when the top is browned but the cake is not completely set.  This can be tricky to determine.  I have had one perfect outcome...one epic fail...and one that was so-so (yes I have made it that many times...it's good!).  I like to have apple in every bite, so I tried adding additional apples (without the syrup of the pie filling), but that made it too wet.  The next time I just cut my apples up and that helped them spread evenly throughout the pan.  All in all a very tasty, super easy, fun dessert!

2) Potato Pouches
           Ingredients: 10-12 small red potatoes, 1 packet of ranch dressing mix, 6 slices of cooked
                                  bacon, salt, pepper, butter, 3 sheets of heavy-duty foil

This.was.awesome.  You slice up the potatoes (thin slices).  I put the salt and pepper (to taste) on all of the potatoes at once and mixed them up well so that the seasonings were distributed evenly.  Spray each piece of foil with cooking spray.  Place an equal amount of potatoes on each piece of foil.  Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix equally over all the potatoes (you could mix this in when you do the salt and pepper if you'd like...but I liked it better just on the top of the potatoes).  Crumble up your bacon and sprinkle it evenly among the three servings of potatoes.  The recipe then calls for you to place 1 tablespoon of butter on the top of each serving. The first time I made this I totally forgot to add the butter here...and they turned out just fine.  We just added butter at the table if we wanted it. The next time I made it I did as the recipe instructed...still wonderful.

                                               (completed pouch minus the butter on top)

After all your ingredients are on the foil, fold it up so that it makes a little pouch...completely "sealed."  The original recipe calls for them to then cook on the grill for 20-30 min. I also have done this in the oven for roughly the same amount of time...I believe I set the temp to 375.  Both options work.  These potatoes were a HUGE hit...and rightly so!

3)  Sharpie art on mugs
               Supplies:  sharpie markers and white ceramic coffee mugs

This activity was both incredibly fun...and completely frustrating.  I decided to be a fun aunt and purchased mugs for my nieces and nephews to decorate.  I came armed with loads of markers and plenty of mugs for all.  We had a blast decorating them. After they are decorated, they are to baked in an oven at 350 for 25 min. This is to make the marker permanently affixed to the mugs and keep it from coming off when you wash it.  We used lots of bright colors and metallics along with standard black sharpie.  Nowhere in any of the pins for this activity did it say that colored sharpies would not work well.  We baked them, let them cool, and when I went to wash them before we drank out of them the colored sharpie on my niece's mug wiped right off.  Boo.  It did not wipe off of my mug as easily as it did hers, but it does come off somewhat if you rub it with your fingers.  This is a tragedy. All is not completely lost, however.  The black and metallic markers help up beautifully.  So, lesson learned...don't use colored sharpies...or don't ever use the mug.  In either case, I would definitely not put your decorated mug in the dishwasher.

                           (one side of my amazing mug...with the color holding up pretty well)

There you have it.  A much delayed but lengthy post. Enjoy!

Dry skin and Listerine

So, this go-round I have attempted to rid my feet of dry, cracked skin.  Let's just jump right on in.

 "...the BEST way to get your feet ready for summer."

This pin promised a lot. While I enjoy a good pedicure as much as the next person, I am always looking for ways to get the same result for far less money. Therefore, when I read this pin and all it claimed to accomplish...I was intrigued. 

Directions: Mix 1/4 cup Listerine (you read that right), 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/2 cup of warm water.  Soak your feet for 10 minutes "and when you take them out the dead skin will practically wipe off!"  (You can see why I was so excited to try it!)

I did exactly as I was instructed.  It seemed like far less liquid than one would expect for such a task.  The only thing I had that would fit both of my feet comfortably was a glass, 9x13 baking dish (don't judge). 

It is hard to see the mixture, but I promise it is there.  It did come most of the way up the back of my heels (at least past the dead skin part), but if I tried this again I would probably double the suggested amounts to be sure.  I stuck my feet in and set the timer for 10 minutes.  During this time period, my feet definitely felt tingly, and my nasal passages were most certainly opened up (not something the pin said would happen).  When the timer went off, I was filled with anticipation as I went to "wipe the dead skin off."  Yeah...that didn't happen. The skin was softer, but I still had to do some pretty serious work with the pumice stone to see any real difference (and my feet weren't that bad...I do take care of them regularly).  I was surprised to find something that the pin failed to mention....my feel were blue! I selected the blue Listerine as it was recommended by the original pinner....and my feet soaked up that color well.  I tried to take a picture of that...but I was laughing too hard to get a good one.  Most of the color scrubbed off fairly easily, but some of it lingered for a day or so.  I cannot say that this is a successful pin based on its description, but my blue feet (and even my lower legs) were very relaxed afterward.  So, maybe there are positives after all.  I may give this a go one more time to see if it works any better.

I have a couple of fun food pins lined up for the next post.  I will be making taco cupcakes and using my new favorite egg-less cookie dough recipe (I shared the recipe on my Facebook page a couple of weeks ago) in homemade ice cream.  My hope is that it will freeze well and hold up in the ice cream maker....wish me luck! 

Chicken Delishiousness

I am having fun perusing my boards and selecting which pins to post about next.  Normally, I will just blog once a week, but tonight's pin was just too good not to share immediately!  I have no idea what they called it...but I call it delicious!

Ingredients: Chicken breast (boneless and skinless....recipe calls for 4 but my supermarket pkg had 3)
                    1 box stove top (I used the one for chicken...but I think the savory herb would be great
                                   as well)
                    1/2 cup sour cream
                    1 can cream of chicken soup
                    1/4 cup water

This cooks in your trusty crock pot.  I love crock pot cooking in the summer because they use less energy than the oven and put off way less heat. 

First, you put your chicken in the bottom of the crock pot.

Next, dump the box of stove top over the chicken.

Combine the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and water in a bowl and stir well.  Once it is nice and creamy pour it over the stove top and spread out as evenly as possible.

Put the lid on and cook on low for 4 hours.  That's it...it is literally that easy!!  When it's all done and you are ready to serve it, take a fork and "fluff" the stove top up a bit.  It will help to stir in the remaining "sauce" and you will not be sorry. 

I forgot to take a picture of the crock pot before I plated it...I was so ready to eat it that I wasn't thinking! The chicken just fell apart but wasn't the least bit dry.  You could even add some cheese to the top if you wanted!  This was hands down one of the easiest meals I have ever made. Hope you will enjoy it, too!!  Another big thumbs up for this one!!

Once Upon a Pinterest...

Ok...I, like many others, am a hardcore Pinterest addict.  I love it.  All of it.  The funny bits, the food, the crafty ideas, the home decor...you name it, I will pin it.  My intentions upon pinning are always good.  "Oh! That looks so good!  I will grab those ingredients at the store and make that this week!"  Yeah right.  So many pins...so little time.  One of the blessings of my profession is a short break in the summer. (Disclaimer--Yes, teachers get some time off.  However, I am attending several workshops, realigning my curriculum to new state standards, reading the new novels I will be reading again with my students in the the next year, and working in my classroom....and I am far from the busiest teacher in the summertime. Just in case you wanted to make the "I wish I was a teacher so that I could only work 9 months a year comment...because you shouldn't. :) )  That being said, I have decided to take some of my "time off" to try out those pins just sitting on my various boards waiting to be used.  I will report back here with the outcomes as sort of a public service announcement for the posterity of any others who were wondering about said pins.  Fun...yes?  Hope so...because here we go!


Today I will be discussing two pins: one claiming to be the "ONLY" floor cleaner you will ever need and another for homemade brownie mix. 

1) Floor Cleaner
    Ingredients: 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 TBS liquid dish soap, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 2 gallons
    of very warm tap water
( I have white, ceramic tile in my kitchen/bathrooms and wood tile in my husband's office. )

The description on the pin said that my floors would be spotless and everything would be left "smelling amazing."  Well...here's the scoop...they were half right!  My floors were definitely sparkly clean and it was super easy (and cheap) to mix up.  It made loads of suds (which I love) and my floors were not remotely sticky afterward. It is also a safe, (harsh) chemical-free cleaning alternative.  I am by no means the greenest person on the planet...though I would love to be...but I do always try to find environmentally/pet/kid friendly products for cleaning...and this fit the bill for me!  As for the smelling great part....I didn't notice much of a smell at all. At first, I was worried that it would have a strong vinegar smell that would linger for a while...but that was not the case.  I think the lack of smell is what I like most about it. Clean floors...no strong odor...safe for the family/environment...sold!  I give this pin a thumbs up!! 


2) "You'll never buy boxed brownie mix again!"
     Ingredients: 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 2 eggs,
     1/2 cup oil, 1 tsp vanilla
     Bake: 350 F for 20-25 min

I am married to the biggest brownie lover I have ever met...and he can be particular.  So, when I saw this recipe I decided to give it a whirl and not tell him they were made from scratch. If I said that they were a hit, that would be an understatement.  He LOVED them!  The ingredients are already in you pantry (for most folks) and it takes no time at all to whip them up (which is both dangerous and wonderful).  I will admit that they are not always as moist as some store-bought brownie mixes, but they are always tasty.  I use the Pampered Chef brownie pan (if you don't have one...find a consultant and order one ASAP...LIFE CHANGING!!) and the recipe yields the perfect amount.  I also love that it is super easy to double/triple if you need a larger number of treats.  The BEST part about this is it's gift value.  You can mix up the dry ingredients, put them in a sassy little jar/baggie, attach a card with the rest of the recipe, and voila! The perfect teacher/hostess gift!  You could even just mix up several baggies of dry ingredients to keep on hand for your own benefit.  All-in-all, this is a winner for me!

I hope you will stay tuned for the next installment of my Pinterest adventures!  I welcome any pin suggestions and would love to have someone write a guest post or two about their experiences! Until next time!!                   

Leftover Thankfulness

November is a time of thanks. We pause to be thankful for our family, friends, jobs...some even take the time to be publicly thankful each day for a different blessing.  I am ridiculously blessed.  God placed me in the arms of parents who loved me from the moment they knew I existed.  They nurtured me, disciplined me, provided for me, encouraged me to learn something new whenever possible, lavished love on me in more ways than I could ever count, and pointed me to Jesus each and every day.  With those parents came extended families that joined with them in raising me to love big, laugh much, learn always and seek God. When I went to college I got to experience a whole new kind of blessing...education.  I got to choose what I wanted to study.  I got to dig deep into beautiful pieces of literature, both the good and bad parts of our history, examine how things work, and establish my own beliefs, opinions and identity.  After graduation I was blessed to find a job in the field that I love  and to be able to work in the same place for six years.  God blessed me beyond measure when he brought the man who was to be husband back into my life after so many years.  With that amazing husband came a remarkable family that has shown me a whole new kind of love and acceptance.  I could go on and on about all the ways that God has chosen to bless my life.  I am thankful every single day.

December is a time of giving.  I pray that this holiday season, as you are busy shopping for family friends...desperately seeking out those perfect gifts for those you love...you would continue to be thankful.  I ask that you remember your blessings and think about those who are less fortunate.  Let your thankfulness and blessings pour out onto others in the same manner that they were poured out onto you.  Truly be cheerful this season...don't let crowded parking lots, busy stores, long lines, or last minute shopping rob you of your joy. 

Let us not allow ourselves to put thankfulness on the shelf until next November.  Thankfulness does not have an expiration date...or calories...so feel free indulge in the richness it will bring to your life.

Faith like a...

How would you finish that statement? Child? Mustard seed? It has been completed many different ways over the years.  Sunday, I worshipped in a church that has a thriving ministry for adults with special needs.  Those who most of society has cast aside.  Those that make many stare, cringe, or change seats in a movie theater.  Here, they are welcomed, embraced, & encouraged.  They sit among the rest of the congregation as one united body of believers...no judgement, no running away.  One man in particular caught my eye this week.  He sat on the very front row...you know, the one that most of us avoid like the plague. As praise songs were sung, he clapped and danced and smiled and sang wholeheartedly.  Some might consider that a distraction...inappropriate for Sunday morning worship.  I found it humbling.  His faith is so genuine and pure that he cannot keep still...it pours out of him without shame or concern of what others might think.  How freeing! I want THAT faith.

Real.Absolute.Joyous.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

This week in Room 34 we learned about respect.  Respecting our school.  Respecting adults.  Respecting our freedoms. Respecting each other. Respecting "the process."  Respecting our leaders.  From the first minute election results started coming in, the news feed on my "social media page of choice" began to explode with comments from all sides. Some were simple reactions to the way things work...electoral college vs popular vote, types of ballots, recounts, etc. Others were comments about the candidates themselves...I hope my candidate wins, I hope the other candidate loses, I don't care for either candidate, etc.  Then, the winner was called, the concession speech was given...and people got nasty.  I went to bed. I have no interest in mean-spirited comments. The next morning I got up, looked up the most recent/final results, and went to work.  My students have been studying both candidates, making their own decisions about who they felt was the better choice, and some got to vote for the very first time. Those who voted for the winning candidate were ecstatic.  Those who voted for the losing candidate were devastated. These are normal reactions.  Both candidates couldn't come out winners.  We had discussed for weeks that this would be an extremely close election, and that it truthfully could go either way.  Those who were "victorious" calmed down and were gracious.  Those who were "defeated" took a deep breath and began talking about how everything starts over again in four years.  I encouraged all of them to take pride in their vote...no matter the candidate...and to not become so discouraged that they stop participating in "the process."  They were mature and honest and respectful...and I was extremely proud.  My younger students...those who are not old enough to vote, those who did not spend as much time learning about both sides, those who are affected by but not responsible for the outcome of the election...were a different story.  The things that they were saying to each other...the comments made about the President, the comments made about Gov. Romney, the comments made about the outcome of the election...were the opposite of respectful.  So...we had a chat.  We learned that one of the many beauties of voting by secret ballot is that...it's a secret.  You do not have to tell anyone who got your vote.  Your vote can be as personal and private as you wish it to be.  We learned that it is always important to be gracious...whether you win or lose.  We learned that the office of President is an important one...and even if you do not care for the candidate chosen to fill it you MUST respect the office itself.  We learned that hate in the form of words is the worst kind of hate...because you can never take your words back...words are forever.  We learned that if you don't like something and you want it changed, there are ways to respectfully request that change...you may not always get what you ask for, but you can be proud you went about asking for it the right way.  When my room was empty, and those conversations were over, I asked myself these questions: Where do children learn disrespect? Where do children learn hate? What kind of example are we setting for the young people in our lives?  Do we, as adults, realize that those children for whom we are so incredibly responsible are the future leaders of our nation?  Do we, as adults, realize that the hate, disrespect, and negativity that we are modeling for those young people will be forever burned in their minds as the "right" way to approach things? What will that mean for our country in 10, 15, 20 years time?  Do we want to be forever known as a nation that handles disagreements, conflict, and challenges with hateful, disrespectful words and actions?  What can I do to prepare our future generations for leadership?

The responsibility is great.

Brushing off the Cobwebs

It's been quite a while since I posted. I thought I would get myself back in the saddle and share some of what is on my mind lately. 

I love teaching.  I love teaching what matters.  I love teaching kids how to use their words instead of their fists. I love teaching kids how to take the brilliant things inside their minds (yes...there are brilliant teenagers all around us) and put them into action.  I love teaching kids to examine all sides of a situation before they make a decision one way or the other.  I love teaching kids about how history, science, literature, and, yes, even math all work together to make the foundation of our lives, cultures, and world.  I love teaching kids to push themselves beyond every limit they thought they had.  I love teaching kids that basic things like respect, kindness, humility, and understanding can move mountains. I love teaching kids that they can and will change the world...and that they have a choice about what that change will look like.  I even love teaching kids the difference between action and linking verbs, that adjectives modify nouns and pronouns, that a lot is two words, sentences are puzzles and every word has its place, and the difference between their/there/they're. I am thankful that my profession (like most) has checks and balances. I am very aware of the fact that I have weaknesses.  I am happy that I am encouraged to strengthen those weak areas and excel in my areas of strength.  I agree that the children in our state and nation deserve the best education we can provide them. I agree that ineffective teachers need to be given the support/tools to become effective...whatever they may be.  I believe that if my kids are not successful, it is at least in part because I have not been successful.  I believe that the success of my students is bigger than a test and that neither one of us should be judged only on the outcome of one stressful exam.  I believe that teachers should be consulted when making laws and regulations regarding education.  I believe that we, as adults, set the example for younger generations....and we need to step up our game. I believe in telling kids the truth...even (if not especially) when the truth is "I don't know"....because they sooooo know when we're lying.  I believe that when make decisions about who our elected officials should be, what laws should be in place, and how we should be involved in the affairs of other countries we should keep those younger generations in mind. 

Next week we have the opportunity to set that example. Whatever way your votes fall...vote.

A Sad State of Affairs

I often have to make an early morning trip to WalMart.  Usually it is because I need to purchase some sort of supply/supplies for my classroom.  (That's right...teachers spend money out of their own pockets to provide supplies for their students.)  Today, was a WalMart morning...and I left with my supplies...as well as a broken heart.  I arrived just before 7am...right as the new shift of workers was clocking in and the night crew was clocking out.  As I pulled into the parking lot alongside the employees, I was deeply saddened by what I saw.  Each and every one of the employees coming to work was a senior adult. One in particular had to park in a handicapped space and was so hunched over that she could hardly walk...lunchbox  and pocketbook in tow.  We both entered the store at the same time, and she immediately got a cart, placed her items inside, and held on to it as she walked to the back of the store so that she could punch in.  I am heartbroken by the fact that a woman in her stage of life has to work at all.  The senior adults in our country have fought in wars, worked for decades, rasied families, paid taxes, and contributed to social security.  The very least we can do is make sure that their basic needs are met.  Perhaps she is working because she wants to...more power to her...but I seriously doubt that is the case.  There must come a day in this nation where we acknowledge the financial mistakes we have made, determine to correct them, and commit to righting those wrongs.  Do I know how to do that? Not really...but I believe that there are people in Washington who can and will figure it out.  However, I can't imagine that the same principles each of us are called to live by would not apply there as well: don't spend more than you have, and pay your debts.

Snapshots of a blogger

Just for fun...I wanted to post a few pictures.  I am not an overly abundant picture post-er...but I thought a few fun photos might let you get a better picture of who I am.  So...fasten your seatbelts. :)

One of my favorite pastimes is playing dress-up in the toy aisle at my local Wal-Mart.  I happen to feel I missed my calling to be a superhero.

     Dress-up is also fun in antique stores. :)

    Thankfully, I have an equally playful husband...who is also cute. :)

  I also come by that playfulness honestly...just your average family photo. :)

That is me in a nutshell...silly, blessed, and easily entertained. :)  Hope you enjoy!!

                         

Responsibility is not a dirty word

As I have shared before...I spend my day with young people.  I work every single day to help educate them and help to shape their character.  I am also a sports fan...especially basketball and football (primarily college football...though I will watch the NFL from time to time).  On a regular basis, my students come into class asking "Mrs S! Did you see the __________ game last night?!?! It was awesome!" "Mrs S, who is your favorite team/player/coach? Mine is ______."  I happily spend what little, if any, free time before the tardy bell rings/at lunch discussing these things with them.  Many of those same kids call those athletes their heroes.  When I ask them "What makes someone a hero?" they reply "It has to be someone you look up to because of the cool things they do...or what their job is...or how much money they make...or someone you just want to be like."  Fair enough.  Based on that definition of hero, it is logical that 13/14 year-olds with dreams of being professional athletes would select current athletes as their heroes.  Some of the players they talk about are excellent heroes...others are not.  When I think about what I want "my kids" to be, one of the biggest things that comes to mind is responsible...I want them to be responsible teens that grow into responsible adults...both in their actions and in their character.  This is why I spend so much time teaching the things that others consider "unimportant."  So, here I am trying to teach my students to be responsible for their words and actions....and those that they admire so much do not always paint a good picture of that responsibility...and often seem to be rewarded for that lack of responsibility.  Whether their heroes are athletes, movie stars, musicians, teachers (no pressure here...yikes!), or their parents it is important for those people to be good examples of responsibility.  That does not mean you won't ever make mistakes...we're human and hopelessly flawed...mistakes are to be expected.  It means that when you do make a mistake, own it...apologize when appropriate...and do your best not to make the same mistake twice.  Don't make excuses or blame others for your actions...that is the opposite of responsible.  Responsibility is not a dirty word...it is perfectly acceptable for use with all ages...so feel free to not only use it but demonsrate it whenever possible.

Tests Schmests

I have been showing a group of my students the recent PBS special about the Freedom Riders.  We were reading the Inaugural Address from JFK and a piece of the "Letter from the Birmingham County Jail" by MLK Jr.  I was attempting to draw parallels between these two men and my students had no knowledge of the significant connection these two men shared.  I am supposed to be in the final push toward our state mandated testing--the tests that determine the success not only of my students but also the public school they attend--reviewing what we have learned and making sure they are prepared for the exams.  I chose, instead, to try and get them ready for the world.  I stopped what I was doing, changed the plans, and spent two days discussing the remarkable individuals...many of whom were students...who risked their lives for equality.  We talked about how inhuman it was for law enforcement to stand by while people were brutally beaten...one bus was even set on fire with Freedom Riders and innocent passengers alike trapped inside.  We talked about how government officials refused to intervene in the midst of complete and total chaos.  Of course, since we were in English class, we wrote about what we saw and heard from the people who lived it.  History took on flesh and blood, and, because they watched those brave souls have their flesh torn and their blood shed, it took root.  THAT is what I get up every morning to do.  I don't just teach academics...I teach life.  It is the most difficult and rewarding profession that I can imagine...and I cannot fathom doing anything else. 

Put your happy pants on

Life is difficult...all by itself.  I do not need to add to that difficulty with a sour and unfortunate disposition.  Believe me, I have faced many, MANY challenges in my life...some that would prompt others to adopt the life of a hermit in a fallout shelter somewhere deep in the earth.  I just refuse to let things get me down...at least not for long.  Don't get me wrong, I certainly feel sad or angry or lonely from time to time...but I don't dwell in those emotions. When we allow ourselves to become bitter and negative, the world around us will also become bitter and negative.  Negativity is one of the most contagious illnesses that exists in our world today.  Allow me to give you an example from my everyday life.

I get up and the day automatically starts out badly.  I stub my toe on the way to the bathroom...can't find anything to wear...burn myself with the curling iron...spill my coffee...car won't start...you name it.  I get to school and there are kids lined up at my door needing me for one thing or another and they are all talking at once.  I can barely get my things put away...getting ready for 1st hour is not even on the radar.  The first bell rings and I am flustered because the morning has been so crazy.  My class is rowdy and won't cooperate...so I snap at them.  They were in perfectly fine moods...until I came along.  Now, each of them is having (at the very least) a terrible 1st hour.  They take their upset attitudes that I gave them to their 2nd hour class...thus sharing my negative attitude with other faculty...and so on and so on throughout the day.  I get home and I am just as unhappy as I was when I left at 7:00am.  My husband then begins to feel the impact of my stinky attitude.  I could go on and on and on. 

When things started to go all wonky, I had a choice.  I chose to let those little instances influence my entire day.  I chose to take my frustrations out on others instead of choosing to be as positive as possible.  I recently rewatched the movie Pollyanna.  In this movie, the title character takes a negative town and turns it upside down with gladness.  She plays the "Glad Game."  I think we all would benefit from playing the "Glad Game" every now and again.  When something negative happens, think of something to be glad of.  For example, when I stubbed my toe I could have stopped and been glad that I didn't break my foot...or that I was even blessed to wake up in the first place. 

Life is all about choices. Choose to put your happy pants on. :)

Class Is In Session

I absolutely detest disrespect....in any form or fashion.  I do not tolerate disrepsect from my students...between my students...towards those in public service...for my country, its flag, its leaders, or its military.  Disrespectful language, attitudes, and behavior are at the core of what is wrong with our society at present.  Here are some scenerios to illustrate my point.

1) When you are in the check-out line of any kind (Wal-Mart, grocery store, bank, etc.) it is disrespectful to be on your cell phone.  By continuing a conversation, that I am sure the person at the register and people behind you do not need to hear...see previous post, you are telling the person  helping you that he or she is not worthy of your time and attention.  They work long hours to provide the public a service.  Put the phone down. Smile at them. Say hello.  Chat about the weather or the new flavor of gum you just picked out. Something...anything...just don't disrespect them.

2) It is never, for any reason, acceptable to put someone down...that goes triple for things that are outside of their control.  It is never ok to disrespect someone because they have a handicap or other disability.  They did not choose their dislexia, paralysis, or speech impediment.  Instead of being disrespectful, start by being thankful for your blessings.  Then, be amazed at the courage it takes for folks with any form of impairment to go out into a world full of hateful, disrespectful people and attempt to live their lives as normally as possible.  Shame on us for ever thinking that looking down on another person was acceptable.  We are ALL fearfully and wonderfully made.

3) It is not ok be disrespectful of our nation....in any way shape or form.  Is ok to be unhappy with the way things are? Absolutely.  Is ok to desire someone else to be in a certain position? Absolutely.  Is it ok to write to your political leaders and share your opinions about what needs to change? Absolutely.  However, it is not acceptable to disrespect the office they hold nor the person who holds it.  If you think that it is such an easy job--run for office...or at the very least vote. I am thankful for the people in my life who, instead of disrespecting those who were in charge, put their money where their mouth is and are doing something to make our state and nation better.  I cannot imagine the stress that comes with knowing that there is an entire nation of people...from all different backgrounds...with different kinds of needs/desires...looking to you to make it better.  It almost makes me sick thinking about it. The Bible says that I am to pray for my leaders.  I don't have to like them...but I should not disrespect them.

4) It is never ok for children to disrespect their parents/caregivers.  I realize that there are a lot of children in situations that are far less than ideal.  For the record, I also believe it is disrespectful and never ok to abuse, neglect, or demean your children.  Parenthood is a gift.  There are many people in the world who desperately want to have children but are unable to do so who would tell you what a gift children are.  Having parents is also a gift. There are many people in the world who lost their parent(s) far too soon and had to experience life without them who will tell you what a blessing it is to have your parents. However, children, discipline is not disrespect...it would be disrespectful not to correct you when it is warranted. 


I feel as though my soap box is beginning to weaken because I have stood on it too long.  So, all of that can be summed up in these few words: Be kind. 

My sentences don't need "@*#$"

I have discovered that I am becoming less and less tolerant of certain things.  An example--I am frequently annoyed by the use of profane language.  It is ignorant and offensive.  There are a plethora of other options that impart the same sentiment without violating the minds/ears of those in proximity with filth. There is little worse than being trapped in a public place, the checkout line at Walmart for example, and being assulted by nasty language.  I used to turn the other cheek and ignore things that I could not control.  I would keep my opinions to myself.  I have officially gotten over that.  I do not seek to involve myself in others' conversations, nor do I aim to offend. However, should you choose to loudly have a conversation in my presence that includes crass terminology, be prepared.  If you are having trouble finding just the right word or phrase, scan a thesaurus.  It is a wonderful tool.  Inside you will find words in abundance. There are even "apps for that."  In case you are wondering, here are a few current pet peeves:

Sucks--If used to describe the function of a vaccum cleaner...ok.  If used to describe the negativity of a   situation...no.

Retarded--If used to describe how you feel a situation is inadequate...unacceptable.

Holy Hell--I assure you, hell is by no means holy.

Gay--If used to describe a light-hearted, happy mood...ok.  If used to describe how you feel a situation is inadequate...unaccetable.  Inanimate objects have no sexual preference.

Call me antique

 There was a time when we raised little girls to be ladies and little boys to be men.  Young women were taught etiquette, dressed fashionably but modestly, were courted by young men, and respected themselves.  Young men were taught manners, learned to work hard in order to provide for their family, and treated young ladies with respect.  When in mixed company, certain topics were off limits....and some topics were simply off limits regardless of the company.  People used common sense.  Families went to church together. People were not perfect...nor was society/the world perfect...but it was polite.  I am not entirely certain when it happened, but things changed.  Not only do boys and girls talk about things that should not be discussed with the opposite sex, they see it all over TV and hear it in the lyrics of music.  They are bombarded with unbridled sensuality and see nothing wrong with acting out what they see and hear.  They hear offensive, ignorant language and make it part of their everyday conversation.  They do not respect the personal boundaries of others...limited as those boundaries might be.  They speak disrespectfully to their parents and other adults.  They dress in a way that exposes parts of themselves that are not meant to be seen in public.  They make messes and leave them for someone else to clean up.  When did this become acceptable?   I don't believe that being a well-spoken, well-behaved, and well-mannered individual is old-fashioned...I believe it is appropriate and necessary. I would like to be able to go out in public, both now and with my children in the future, and not be accosted by offensive sights and sounds.  Frequently, I hear people complain about the state of things...society, country, world, etc.  Perhaps, if we returned to some of those "old-fashioned" values we would see an improvement.  Just an idea.

All ya need is...

What is the one thing that everyone is missing?  Think globally...the one thing that makes all other challenges tolerable.  The Beatles tell us that "All Ya Need Is Love."  While I agree that love is vitally important, I feel that there is something else that is lacking.  Peace.  As we revisit the Christmas story, we are reminded that this is why Christ came.  To bring Peace.  Yes, he came so that we, as sinners, could have salvation from our sin...but with that, I assure you, comes peace.  An all-consuming peace that passes all understanding.  The kind of peace that provides comfort in the midst of turmoil...infuses your heart with added joy...cradles you in sleep.  Ironically, we are reminded of this beautiful peace during what has become the most hectic time of year.  Stores are overcrowded with less-than-happy people spending more than they have...and don't forget the parking lots of those stores...scary.  Roadways are packed with people trying to reach family and friends...drivers nerves become frazzled...children are anxious to get to their destination.  Students are cramming for finals and other semester exams...willing themselves to remember all they have learned during the past few months.  Families who have fallen on hard times sit broken...wishing they could provide their children with a little extra during the holidays...but struggling to scrape enough together to keep the heat on.  War...seemingly everywhere.  Winter storms.  So much more.  What's missing?  Peace.  This holiday season, whatever situation you find yourself in, I wish you peace.  Not a temporary peace...but an everlasting peace.  I pray that you find it and never let it go.  If you would like to hear more about how Christ can give you the gift of peace this season, find a local church and ask someone how you can pick up your free gift this Christmas.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Isaiah 9:6-7
⁶ For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
   there will be no end.