Who needs marbles with these thoughts rolling around in my head?

I don't know how I can have any deep, meaningful thoughts lately.  Work is keeping me so busy (I'm not complaining, mind you!), that I'm doing a lot of the "standing at the refridgerator door trying to figure out what I was looking for," or walking all the way to the office, only to forget the very thing I needed to bring.  There are a lot of noble causes, mind you.  However, lately I've found myself with a lack of clarity in my daily life.

But my sons and I have had some amazing talks, especially about spiritual matters, and the role of christians in everyday life.  Here in the states, we are programmed to think that only ministers are doing God's work, and those in ministry are the only ones in God's will when it comes to serving God.  But who are ministers serving?  That's been the "rolling around" thought.  Ministers in the states tend to serve and minister to christians.  So who reaches out into the communities?  Churches have the tendency to become inwardly focused.  Their lives become full of being around other christians.  How many christians intentionally put themselves out there to be around non-christians? 

What if a church set up a table outside Walmart that said, "Such and such church wants to pray for you" and accepted anonymous prayer requests?  Then, they actually spent time praying for those request?  What if we hosted sporting events for the community?  What if we were really out there?  What if we used our jobs to minister to others?  To let the idea of doing a job and doing it well serve as a testimony to those around us?  What if we kept our word and did what we said we were going to do?  It just might be revolutionary!

But these thoughts haven't been just about adults.  The American church tends to protect our kids and try to keep them from the evil of the world by schooling them ourselves.  I've been wondering, though, if that is how we need to be raising them?  We often complain that our kids have no values, that they are too into themselves and can't think beyond themselves.  I wonder if that's because we've taken away the opportunities that would allow them to grow?  I think about seeds, and how important gravity is to their growth process.  The root part of the seed grows with gravity, while the plant part grows against it.  The seed actually needs resistence to grow properly.  Are we protecting our children so much, that we're taking away that resistence? 

I've not solidified my thoughts here, but this is what's in here. *sigh*  Sometimes it's just exhausting!

Friends

I was thinking about my friends today.  I've always said I hate working with women.  It might be sexist to say it, even though I am a woman, but it's been my experience that working with a lot of women always brings with it a certain amount of drama.  And that amount of drama tends to be a bit more than I can tolerate.  I don't understand creating drama for drama's sake, and I have little respect for anyone who feels it necessary to try to alter another person's reputation for their entertainment or drama addiction.  The amount of damage that is done in careless fashion truly deserves solid consequences.

I like straight shooting, genuine and kind people, and value them immensely. The combination of qualities is important, because I've known straight shooting people, but the element of kindness wasn't there.  The idea of "I will say what I need to say and it's up to you to deal with it" is just an excuse to be mean.  Or, I've known people who were extremely kind, but so much so that they couldn't be straight with people for fear of being unkind.  Honest, real and nice is so valuable in today's world and is a rare combination.

Until now.  Now I find myself in the midst of people like this.  It's caused me to rethink my stance on working with women.  When it works, it works well.  Women have the ability to challenge each other and bring out strengths.  We can bear each other's burdens while at the same time encouraging each other without fear of being outdone.  We can be friends in the truest sense of the word.  We can set our agendas aside and rally around each other.  And we can put some of those other people in their place by not taking part in the pettiness and meanness.  It speaks volumes.

I don't know how long I will have the privilege of being around these women, but the lessons I've learned from them and the spirit of unity I've been a part of is something I will cherish and take with me for future friendships.  I'm proud to know them all.

My new writing venture...

....http://www.examiner.com/gifted-education-in-fort-worth/looking-out-for-our-gifted-and-talented-students

We'll see how this goes.

A New Venture

I recently had the opportunity to start writing for an online source about gifted education. I decided to take it.  I'll post about it at some point, I'm sure.  Right now I'm just figuring things out, but I posted my first article today entitled, "Looking Out for our Gifted Students."  We'll see how it goes...

Wish me luck!

Blogging Meets Classroom

Awhile back I took part with in some photography challenges with some of my blogging friends I met online.  Carmi, Anna and Mike (all amazing photographers!) would submit these amazing photos, and I learned so much from their perspectives.  The challenges each week were things like Project Blue, Project Black and White, and Project Look Through.  The way that these photographers interpreted these challenges was just fun and brought out so much creativity in the rest of us.  We learned a lot through them.

So I decided to take what I learned from them and bring it to the classroom.  Last week, just for fun with no grade attached, the kids can participate in our own little project for the week.  The theme this week is Project Green.  Already I've received a picture of a cat's eye (the most beautiful green you've ever seen!), grass, a recycling bin, okra....they are just eating it up.  Now I'm thinking about what to do with the pictures!  A collage is an easy fallback, but I want to display them well.  We will spend about 30 minutes in the computer lab and I'll show them how to use some editing software so that we can really bring out the greens in the picture, and maybe do some cropping.  We'll see.  We're all learning as we go!

The Christmas Story

My husband reads this to our family every Christmas morning, before we do anything else.  As did his father before him.  It's why we celebrate the day.  Blessings to you all, and remember, Jesus came and dwelt among us, and stood in our place as the sins of the world were placed on his shoulders.  He did come to redeem us all.

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2:2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.


2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son,
and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.


2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us. 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His Name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

"Helper's High"

I wrote an article for our school newspaper recently that talked about the physical benefits altruism, or the unselfish concern for the welfare of others.  It seems that acting altruistically releases endorphins and aids the person helping by dulling their sense of pain, relieving stress and tension, and giving them a euphoric feeling, much like a runner's high.  It's what makes people want to give to others.  Can you imagine if we didn't get a good feeling from giving?  Or if it were painful?  God knew exactly what he was doing when he linked our mind, body, soul and spirit in such a manner.  His wisdom constantly amazes me!

We put altruism into practice today by doing something to uplift the fearless leader at our school.  The principal of our school is completely selfless, self sacrificing, and will fight tooth and nail for students and teachers alike.  I know I've received responses to emails time stamped 4 a.m. from her, and her door is always open.  I also have never had a supervisor write a hand-written thank you note thanking me for allowing her to visit my class.  Who does that?  She does.

So today was time for our staff to return the favor.  We practiced a couple of times in my class, they practiced on their off time, and during Christmas assembly today we performed a little "flashmob" dance for her to the tune of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You."  The entire staff of 75 people participated, and she stood in the back and cried, which is not unusual for her.  We had a blast, and the feeling of that moment lasted until the moment we packed up our cars and left for our Christmas break.  It was a great start to this holiday.

It was important for us all to let her know how much we appreciated her sacrifice.  She is a fearless leader, and we love her dearly, as she does us.  I think this high will sustain me for a bit longer than today.  I need to be careful, though.  I think it's addicting.