Sunday, January 30, 2011

"These are the Days"

(Sugarland)

It's been eleven days since I've posted here...sorry about that. I started another blog for my students which has been keeping me VERY busy.

Then the past three work days: Snow days! Yippeee!

I want to write more, but I don't know what to say. Hmmm....that's not usually a problem for me. I will at least post this so I am not MIA anymore.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Little Moments

(Brad Paisley)

All around me I see big things happening...friends getting engaged, starting new relationships, friends dealing with serious illness...to name a few. I feel like I am holding onto "little moments" to steer my way through the big ones. It grounds me. Helps me see where I am going.

In three days, I will celebrate the last of my thirties, heading into the next decade. Where will I go? What big happenings or little moments will be coming my way?

It's only 19 days into the new year and all of that enthusiasm I had for all things new- this blog, gym, etc- it's waning and I am feeling overwhelmed. This is when I have given up. Hidden. Made excuses for myself. Instead, I recognize that I am getting involved in my church. I've been a good friend to my friends. I am dealing with stress at work that is, at times, crushing. So, I need to steer the ship towards this place, towards the gym and running. I need to continue to build! Build on what's started and don't give up.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

"Down the Road"

(Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally)

It's been almost a week since I've posted here. Honestly, I've spent a HUGE amount of time getting my classroom blog off the ground. So far, it's a huge success! This week...there are no words. I feel like a used dish towel that's been rung (or it is wrung) out and used over and over again. The good news is I survived and learned many lessons. 

1. God is really with me. I felt alone and low at times this week and whenever I reached out for help (which I'm not good at doing) it was there. That was new for me. I repeated Isaiah 41:10 to myself (suggested to me by my friend Jessica) over and over. I physically felt lighter. 


Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
 2. Believe in myself, even when others don't. Many parts of myself have been questioned lately. Personally and professionally. This has led to some introspection and questioning. I do believe that I know who I am. I like who I am. 

3.  This week, because of some unexpected troubles, and LOTS of work, I didn't build much of anything that I'd planned on building...this blog, running, etc. I will not punish myself for that. I am back here tonight. I will be returning to running tomorrow. I will recognize the fact that I built some mus-cles, as my dad would say. That time spent was just as valuable. I will appreciate the fact that I am doing the best I can living the life I am living. 

4. Music and prayer. These two things really helped me! I've come to depend on both. Thanks to Trinity I have been obsessively listening to Sara Groves' album "Fireflies and Songs". I'm so grateful. Thanks to Kelly and Jessica, I've been reading the Bible and repeating verses of Scripture that saved me this week. 

As I look down the road, I know that life holds great things for us all. 

Here's my the video of my new favorite song "Setting up the Pins" by Sara Groves



Monday, January 10, 2011

"Setting Up the Pins"

(Sara Groves)

Have you ever bought an album on iTunes and then not listened to it...like buying a book from a bookstore that you just have to have and then it sits in your bookshelf indefinitely...never to be opened? Then have you ever been re-introduced to "said" music by fate?

I bought Sara Groves "Fireflies and Songs" awhile ago. It was recommended because I bought Steven Curtis Chapman's "Beauty Will Rise" (which is an amazing album). I never rely listened to it-until last night. I was reading a friend's blog and she posted a video of this song. I was hooked. Inspired. It's still running through my head and I'm hoping it will be enough to get me through a very busy week.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

(various artists)

It's Friday. There's some snow on the ground, but not nearly enough for every teacher's dream....snow day! Bummer. I'm grateful it's Friday. It's been a long week and I'm ready for the weekend. Not much to say today...tired, bummed out, overwhelmed.

Here's to a happy Friday!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Stuck Like Glue

(Sugarland)
I think a mark of a day well-lived is a good night sleep. Sleep has not been coming easily for me lately, until last night. I slept peacefully until my alarm sang to me at five a.m. And what a feeling that is! Especially after a workout that wasn't so great. My plan was to run. I am following the couch to 5k program. After 11minutes, I got off the treadmill. I couldn't do anymore. Here's the good part....I didn't just leave I didn't give up. I built on my beginning, i persisted and rode the bike for twenty more minutes. I ended up riding/running/walking for 31 minutes and I rode/ran/walked for 4.8 miles. It wasn't what I planned. It wasn't what I set out to do. It wasn't perfect. It was exercise. It was healthy. It is done!

My lesson for yesterday, the one that kept showing up in different ways over and over again, was build...it doesn't need to be perfect, but just keep going. This is exactly the reason why I love picking a word of the year! In my head I thought I knew where this would focus me, and already I am learning new, unexpected, and totally necessary lessons. It feels good!

Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Winner Takes It All

(from "Mama Mia" soundtrack)

Ok...today's one of those days. It's a day where I feel like giving up on everything already. (It's only January 5th...this can't be good) except I am paying attention to that feeling, addressing it, and moving past it. So, here I am writing on my blog again and soon I will be packing my bag for the gym.

This isn't a particularly interesting post and I may not do a great job running today, but I am showing up. Doing it. Building. This has been such a weakness for me because in the past I've avoided instead of persisted. If I can't be great, why bother....was my old philosophy. My new philosophy is show up everyday. So here I am.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Don't Rain on my Parade

(Glee soundtrack)

I did it! I did it! I did it! I ran/walked a mile and a half! I also finished my first book of 2011. The running felt great. The hardest part was packing my bag and getting there. I loved the feeling of being n the treadmill. I pushed myself. It's awesome. Im celebrating this so much becuse i want to build on it. I want to continue and have it last.

My other accomplishment...finishing my first book..I'm shooting for 111 books in 2011 AND keeping track of the books i read by building a list i can reflect upon and maybe even share with students. I read Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. It's a story of a teacher and his impact on his students, as told by his students. It is so beautiful and touching! This is one of those stories that will stick with me. I highly recommend it.

Busy Monday...is it only Tuesday? Well, Tuesday, here i come!
Michelle

Monday, January 3, 2011

The Girl I Mean to Be

(from The Secret Garden soundtrack)

Ok...I'm back! Loving being back here. It's Monday morning and the first day back to school after an interesting winter break. I see all of my teacher friends dreading the return...and while i understand, i don't really feel the same way. Going back to school makes me happy. Seeing my friends, and the kids, and even getting back to work. I'm great at beginnings, maybe that's why I like these days. It's the follow through that I sometimes struggle with...but I will work on building
on beginnings.

Happy Monday to you!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Word of the Year 2011: Build


Build...

This is the third year I have chosen a word of the year to guide me throughout the next twelve months. My first word was (2009) mettle. I loved that word! It just fit! The next word (for 2010) was engage. Again this word came to me easily and it fit. This year I struggled to find just the right word. I had settled on another word...until I some BIG things happened to me...it didn't fit anymore. I consulted a friend and build seemed the best fit.

Build my relationships.
Build my faith and relationship with God.
Build my professional achievements.
Build myself.

Specifically, there are a couple of wats I plan on achieving this.
1. I want to run...run a race.
2. I want to write...here on this blog, amongst other places.
3. I want to take pictures...maybe take a photography class.
4. I want to read the bible...the whole bible this year.


So, 2011...I'm ready to build a great year!!!

Musings and thoughts...