Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
"If I Had Wings"
(Song by Darius Rucker)
Inspired by two fellow writer friends, I am back. I've missed writing here. Reading blogs is one of my favorite things to do...I notice that most of the blogs I read have a theme of some kind. Blogs about teaching, blogs about being an artist, blogs about reading, blogs about gratitude, blogs about TV shows...and I wonder what's my theme? No, I don't wonder. I know. There is no theme. The title of this blog lends itself to the theme of teaching. The problem with that is the "public-ness" of this kind of writing. Wanting this blog to be public...really public, so writing about teaching is limited. I guess the theme of this blog is ME.
Who am I? Ugh! Where do I begin? Thirty-eight years old. Single. Teacher. Homeowner. Friend. Daughter. Sister. Aunt. Christian. All of these labels will probably be addressed here, for anyone interested enough to read. Right now, I am searching... I like the title of the post (Remember my random selection of songs to title each post?): "If I Had Wings". In the song, Darius Rucker asks all kinds of questions. Life questions. Here's some of the second verse:
"...why I am here, and where did I come from;
and where will I go when my time here on this earth is done,
and what will I leave that will go on forever?
Oh no, and what can I do while I'm here to make someone's life better?"
I'm asking lots of those questions right now, too. Searching for the answers.
Inspired by two fellow writer friends, I am back. I've missed writing here. Reading blogs is one of my favorite things to do...I notice that most of the blogs I read have a theme of some kind. Blogs about teaching, blogs about being an artist, blogs about reading, blogs about gratitude, blogs about TV shows...and I wonder what's my theme? No, I don't wonder. I know. There is no theme. The title of this blog lends itself to the theme of teaching. The problem with that is the "public-ness" of this kind of writing. Wanting this blog to be public...really public, so writing about teaching is limited. I guess the theme of this blog is ME.
Who am I? Ugh! Where do I begin? Thirty-eight years old. Single. Teacher. Homeowner. Friend. Daughter. Sister. Aunt. Christian. All of these labels will probably be addressed here, for anyone interested enough to read. Right now, I am searching... I like the title of the post (Remember my random selection of songs to title each post?): "If I Had Wings". In the song, Darius Rucker asks all kinds of questions. Life questions. Here's some of the second verse:
"...why I am here, and where did I come from;
and where will I go when my time here on this earth is done,
and what will I leave that will go on forever?
Oh no, and what can I do while I'm here to make someone's life better?"
I'm asking lots of those questions right now, too. Searching for the answers.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Help!!
Help the National Writing Project! If you share NWP's commitment to high-quality education for all our nation's youth, I urge you to contact your legislators to ensure that vital support is maintained for the NWP. Find out more: http://nwpworks.ning.com/page/join-the-effort
Thursday, December 31, 2009
"Headed for the Future"
Song title sung by: Neil Diamond
Today is the final day of 2009.
Tonight, I will cook dinner for myself and a friend who is going through a tough time right now. Comfort food, comfy clothes, and "Glee" will make us happy while we create vision boards for 2010. I've also chosen my Word of the Year: engage.
In 2009, my word was mettle. I felt like the word gave me strength when I needed it. I felt tougher. There were some big "fights" that I was able to mettle my way through this past year. I've never felt stronger.
As the year was coming to an end, I couldn't decide on my 2010 word. I went through so many choices. Authenticity, gratitude, faith, belief, and even a German word: selig. There are still moments when this word, engage, scares me. But, that tells me that I've made the right decision. Why engage? Well, there are many reasons. First of all, I have a tendency to hide away from life sometimes. I get spooked and retreat to a safe place. I need to take more risks. I need to engage with the world around me. Dictionary.com gives many definitions of engage:
I received my ring engraved with my word today from http://www.etsy.com/shop/purplemoongifts . Here is a picture of it (sorry, it's a bit blurry.) In 2010, I will engage with the world around me.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
Today is the final day of 2009.
Tonight, I will cook dinner for myself and a friend who is going through a tough time right now. Comfort food, comfy clothes, and "Glee" will make us happy while we create vision boards for 2010. I've also chosen my Word of the Year: engage.
In 2009, my word was mettle. I felt like the word gave me strength when I needed it. I felt tougher. There were some big "fights" that I was able to mettle my way through this past year. I've never felt stronger.
As the year was coming to an end, I couldn't decide on my 2010 word. I went through so many choices. Authenticity, gratitude, faith, belief, and even a German word: selig. There are still moments when this word, engage, scares me. But, that tells me that I've made the right decision. Why engage? Well, there are many reasons. First of all, I have a tendency to hide away from life sometimes. I get spooked and retreat to a safe place. I need to take more risks. I need to engage with the world around me. Dictionary.com gives many definitions of engage:
My hope for my word of the year is that it will motivate me to act instead of hide, to attract instead of repel. My hope is that once again a single word will change my life.–verb (used with object)
1. to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons): He engaged her in conversation.
2. to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire: to engage a worker; to engage a room.
3. to attract and hold fast: The novel engaged her attention and interest.
4. to attract or please: His good nature engages everyone.
5. to bind, as by pledge, promise, contract, or oath; make liable: He engaged himself to repay his debt within a month.
6. to betroth (usually used in the passive): They were engaged last week.
7. to bring (troops) into conflict; enter into conflict with: Our army engaged the enemy.
8. Mechanics. to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.
9. to attach or secure.
10. Obsolete. to entangle or involve. –verb (used without object)
11. to occupy oneself; become involved: to engage in business or politics.
12. to take employment: She engaged in her mother's business.
13. to pledge one's word; assume an obligation: I was unwilling to engage on such terms.
14. to cross weapons; enter into conflict: The armies engaged early in the morning.
15. Mechanics. (of gears or the like) to interlock.
I received my ring engraved with my word today from http://www.etsy.com/shop/purplemoongifts . Here is a picture of it (sorry, it's a bit blurry.) In 2010, I will engage with the world around me. Happy New Year to you and your family!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Count My Blessings
(Song by Curtis Stigers)
OK...I said I'd try and post everyday. Oops! How about every week? I have written over 3,000 for NaNoWriMo. I've "reset" my personal goal to 12,000. I've also started a blog for my students at school. It's very exciting! Students are writing for REAL audiences. LOVE it!
Other than that, life is going well. Nothing exciting to report. Happy and healthy! Enjoy each day with all of my blessings!
OK...I said I'd try and post everyday. Oops! How about every week? I have written over 3,000 for NaNoWriMo. I've "reset" my personal goal to 12,000. I've also started a blog for my students at school. It's very exciting! Students are writing for REAL audiences. LOVE it!
Other than that, life is going well. Nothing exciting to report. Happy and healthy! Enjoy each day with all of my blessings!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
You Can Do Anything
(Song by Carole King)
Today I am starting NaNoWritMo! My goal is 50,000. That means 1,667 words a day need to be written by ME. Yikes! Scary...hard...but NOT impossible. Doing this with students and fellow teachers helps keep me on track.
I've missed writing here. School, life...there are so many excuses, but no real reasons. So, I'm back. Along with writing everyday for NaNoWriMo, I'll try to post something here everyday!
I'm back!
Today I am starting NaNoWritMo! My goal is 50,000. That means 1,667 words a day need to be written by ME. Yikes! Scary...hard...but NOT impossible. Doing this with students and fellow teachers helps keep me on track.
I've missed writing here. School, life...there are so many excuses, but no real reasons. So, I'm back. Along with writing everyday for NaNoWriMo, I'll try to post something here everyday!
I'm back!
Monday, September 21, 2009
I'm a Believer
It's been over a month since I've written. The beginning of the school year always seems to take over my whole life. Now that we are into the third week of school, I am able to take a moment and write. But I don't want to write about school.
I believe it's entirely possible that, tonight, I have witnessed a true miracle. I feel grateful, confused, scared, and speechless simultaneously. Without going into details, this is a life changing event that happened to someone I love very much. I'm having a hard time believing that this miracle has happened, yet it exists. Grateful...that's what I'm trying to be. Grateful.
I always thought if something miraculous happened to me or someone I loved, I'd be overjoyed and excited. It never occurred to me that I'd also be scared and confused and unsure if I can believe. I think it's so easy to say that we believe in miracles, but the act of believing in this cynical world can be harder than it seems. Tonight, the impossible became possible. I'm a believer!
I believe it's entirely possible that, tonight, I have witnessed a true miracle. I feel grateful, confused, scared, and speechless simultaneously. Without going into details, this is a life changing event that happened to someone I love very much. I'm having a hard time believing that this miracle has happened, yet it exists. Grateful...that's what I'm trying to be. Grateful.
I always thought if something miraculous happened to me or someone I loved, I'd be overjoyed and excited. It never occurred to me that I'd also be scared and confused and unsure if I can believe. I think it's so easy to say that we believe in miracles, but the act of believing in this cynical world can be harder than it seems. Tonight, the impossible became possible. I'm a believer!
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