Enjoying the View

So this was supposed to be a summary of summer activities, but has clearly morphed into something else, so I'll have to catch you up on summer in the next posting! The month of May was basically a blur which culminated in a new diploma hanging on our wall & a new job - for the summer at least. I graduated with my masters degree in Educational Leadership this May after a year and a half of grad school - an experience that is too difficult to describe in a few words. To sum up, I loved it (at times, loved to hate it)! At this point I am planning on spending another year in the classroom, & pursuing an Assistant Principal position next Spring. However, I have had the opportunity to serve as the administrator for summer school at my home campus, which brings me to June. I have loved every moment of my summer position. It has allowed me to try out my mad leadership skills (ha!), and has served as yet another affirmation that this is what I really want to do. More specifically, I think this experience is helping me realize I really can do this. A few months ago, I was extremely timid about the idea of moving into this type of role, but now (by jumping/falling in the deep end) I realize not only I can do this, but this is what I'm made for. Have you ever been hiking? On one trip to Colorado my high school youth group hiked across the continental divide. This consisted of walking uphill - a lot. We climbed & climbed & climbed, wondering at points where the heck our youth pastor was leading us. Then it happened. We reached the top - a ridge. And standing at that ridge, we could see the beautiful landscape stretched out around us - where we had been & where we were going. It was an incredible experience & one I will never forget. I feel like this is one of those times in my walk with God. He's led me to a ridge & He has allowed me to see more clearly the next leg of the journey. I feel a sense of accomplishment, yet humble thanksgiving that God has brought me to this point & allowed me to see a glimpse of what's coming up next. I find myself thanking Him for who He has made me to be, & finding my security in knowing He loves me, He has a plan for me, & He is with me every step of the way. At this point, I'm kind of at a loss for words, so I'll let David take it from here: Psalm 139: 1-18, 23-24 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

You must have ESPN or something...

So this morning it was hard to get up. Perhaps this has something to do with our recent addiction to Grey's Anatomy, & the fact that we stay up way too late watching 'just one more episode'. I don't know, but I was just tired. So I'm driving to school all I can think of is the Coke (2 cans) I stashed in the lounge fridge last week for such a time as this. I arrive at school, get settled in my office, and head for the caffeine that is calling out my name. Then tragedy strikes. I open the fridge - no Cokes. Yes, plenty of nasty ol' Diet Cokes, but MY Cokes are M.I.A. Someone has stolen them (at this point I began having flashes of the Friends episode where Ross' post-Thanksgiving turkey sandwich gets stolen - isn't that what gets him sent to anger management??) I take a deep breath and begin to investigate. No one admits to the cokenapping, however one teacher does say, "I didn't steal your cokes, but I did steal a dollar out of your desk to buy a diet coke from the machine." Good to know. However, this doesn't solve my problem. My brain starts whirring: Seriously, who would take, not 1, but 2 Cokes from the fridge that don't belong them??? This is why during the school year I write my name all over my Cokes with thick, black sharpie (people actually laugh at me for it). Why didn't I do that during summer school??? All the ridicule about being over-protective and possessive would have been better than this. At this point my thinking is interrupted & I must give up the pursuit because I promised a friend I would get her class started for her. A few minutes later my friend arrives to take her class back, and what does she have in her hands??? A Large Sonic Coke!!!! Side note: In my opinion, A Sonic Coke is the only Coke on the same level of tasty-goodness as an icy-cold can of Coke (the bottles just aren't the same). So this whole story is to say...my good friend KP can read minds. Pretty extraordinary, I know. So thank you KP, for sharing your gifts - you felt my need from miles away & rushed to my rescue. So, Yay for Cokes, Yay for mind-reading friends, and Yay for Mean Girls references.

Oh Sweet Memories

I was cleaning out my school email account earlier, and I ran across a story from my classroom this past year. So, even though some of you have probably heard this one already, I want to take a moment to remind us all why teaching is such a fabulous career. Here we go: So this morning as I’m giving directions, one of my kids has his hand up the whole time. I remind him to wait until after directions to ask questions. He keeps his hand up the whole time, so I finish explaining the activity and call on him. Here is the convo that followed: Me: OK, Bob*, now you can ask your question. Bob (very concerned sounding): Well, Ms. M, I was just wondering…Are you having a bad hair day? Me: What? Bob: I mean, it’s really frizzy or something… Several other kids chime in in agreement: “Yeah, you kinda look like a witch.” “It’s like the day you dressed up as the evil teacher.” (I was Viola Swamp for storybook character day.) Me: Wow guys, how do you think that makes me feel when you say things like that? Johnny*: Well, Ms. M, we don’t think you’re a witch – you’re a really nice teacher, it’s just…your hair…looks… Several other kids chime in again justifying…then one of my girls says (in a trying to sound sincere kind of way) “It’s alright, Ms. M…it looks…ok” Now my kids are at P.E., so I have searched the school and located a broom. I’m set for the day. *Names have been changed to protect the ‘innocent’. Wow, I miss my little darlings already. And by the way, when they were at PE, I took my broom out and asked if anyone needed me to pick them up something at the store because I was heading out to run some errands.

Why Summer Rocks

Here are some reasons I love summer (in no particular order):

1. A change of pace - I get to escape the daily grind of school and schedules & enjoy staying up late, being spontaneous, traveling, and being just plain lazy!


2. Time with my hubby - No matter how crazy the year is, summer's when we get to hang out TOGETHER almost all day, every day. I love it!


3. Fun non-work clothes - flip flops, shorts, tank tops, bright colors...


4. Time for hobbies - Things haven't completely slowed down yet this year, but we have had time to get out in the yard and redo the massive flowerbed in the backyard. As my Aunt Betty (a master gardener) says , "There's just something about getting your hands in the dirt." No matter how much I sweat out there, it still brings a feeling of peace and satisfaction. As it heats up, I'll probably be switching my focus to scrapbooking. However, I'm in no hurry, seeing as how I'm only about 8 years behind...


5. Friends and Family - Summer always seems to be the season to reconnect. This year it has come in the form of me climbing out of my cave of grad school, internship duties, and work commitments, & reintroducing myself to family & friends: Hi guys, I'd like you to meet Normal Katie (as opposed to Crazy Lady-stressed out Katie).


6. Refocus - Living in the academic world, this is the end of my calendar year. So now is when I typically reflect on the past year, set goals, process, etc. Ahhh, having time to think is good.

Diving In

I held out as long as I could. I've long avoided involving myself in the world of MySpace, Facebook, etc. but after being introduced to the wonderful world of blogging, I give up. I'm diving in. I have attempted to resist, but the more I catch myself subconsciously brainstorming ideas for postings, and telling my hubby, "If I had a blog, I would SO put this on it!", I realize it's time. So, here I am & we'll see how this goes. :-)