Mistakes Allowed

I teach 5th grade and consider myself blessed to work with such a flexible, knowledgeable team who all truly care about children.  Throughout all of the necessary changes to quarter testing, curriculum instruction, professional development and other day-to-day challenges, I know that I have support from the four people who I've taught with for the last two years.

So you may ask, why title this post "Mistakes Allowed"?  Well, a teammate of mine has this phrase posted on the wall of her classroom for her students to see.  I love thinking about this poster when I'm working through an order-of-operations problem that has multiple sets of parenthesis and I can't get the answer to match the answer key or when I'm guiding my students through a selection of text, and jumble every other word up.  I love for my students to see me goof, because I feel that sometimes they do honestly think teachers know it all!  I can speak for myself, this is simply not true...no matter how much I wished it were!  In the large scale of things, this new Common Core Curriculum implementation year is chocked FULL of mistakes.  I have lots of pent-up-about-to-bust-at-the-seams-frustration about how things have been handled at the central office level.  However, just like a prepared teacher in a room full of eager children, ready to learn, mistakes can be made.  I have to keep this in the back of my mind that this is a learning curve year.  Everyone  is learning, and everyone is making mistakes. 

Building a house has surely made me think of this poster as well: Mistakes Allowed.  Cruz and I embarked on this house design journey almost two years ago.  We have been so very fortunate to pick out and create our "dream home" including every detail from taller counter tops, to a snazzy, state-of-the-art gas cook top in the island and my personal favorite, two wrap around porches =)  Because of tremendous family support, hours of sleep lost, money pinched and weekends given up, we've had the opportunity to see this dream unfold in front of our eyes.  Just today we finally passed our rough-in plumbing inspection.  Just this past week we passed out rough-in electrical inspection.  Two years worth of hard work and planning are finally beginning to amount to something tangible, and I can't help but get excited!  Now, don't get me wrong, along the way, mistakes have been made.  Plumbing was a doozy to get done, and something as simple as deciding on a paint color can really make you think and reflect on what you want to look at for the next 10 years!  However, mistakes are allowed.  There is nothing set in stone, and we've made changes as this project has evolved.  I know that more challenges will surface as we get deeper into this crazy house-building mess.  More mistakes will be made, but it's totally okay.

Mistakes Allowed.  Simply stated, but so beautifully defined.

What causes an aneurysm?

Today was "family picture day" on Cruz's side of the family.  Thirty-one people turned out to be photographed, all dressed in blue jeans and white tops.  I spent my morning and early afternoon plowing through school work and visiting with my wonderful aunt so that I would have the afternoon to relax and enjoy for a change. 

To fully understand our conversation, some of our closest friends have been recently impacted by a loved one who suffered an aneurysm early last week.  We received word that his condition had not gotten much better, but were hopeful.  On our way to have family pictures made today, I asked Cruz what causes an aneurysm? His reply, "God does".   

Throughout our family pictures today, his response to my question played over and over in my head.  I smiled through the pictures, but I knew, deep down, my smile would soon fade.  I had the feeling God had His plan ready for a special person today.  As the sun began to fade over the horizon and the cooler, crisp fall air whipped by us, we received news that God had gained an angel in Heaven. 

I first grieved for the family.  I hung my head in tears, knowing that our close friends' unborn child would never meet his grandfather.  Holidays with their dad's antics would no longer happen.  His smiling face and love for Carolina Panther football would be no more.  It was quite a hard pill to swallow.  Still, I kept thinking,Why?

It never seems to make sense when someone passes away unexpectedly.  I tend to have internal battles with allowing myself to release selfish tendencies and to fully let that person "go".  Some days, I scowl, wondering why we, on Earth, must sacrifice our needs of loved ones in human form in order for them to return to our Father.  Other days, I am thankful that those in pain are relieved, and that their spirit for the love of life and laughter live on through our memories and hearts on Earth, but their souls are at peace with the Lord.

As I continued to reflect on the voices around me as we snapped one happy picture to another, I felt compelled to be thankful.  I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to even have a picture made with the family that God has blessed me with.  I observed the generations of happy children that played in the leaves, the generations of adults that joked around and imagined the generations that are yet to come.  I find peace in knowing that I, too, have a plan in God's eyes, and when my plan is set, I will be ready.

So, what causes an aneurysm?  WebMD says family history, life style choices and high blood pressure.  I have to say, I think I agree with Cruz on this one.  Just like the answer to all of life's other tough questions: "God does".

We love you Jess and Jake.  May God Bless you and your families as we all mourn the loss of a wonderful man.  I leave you with "family" pictures of precious memories that will never fade away.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

Homecoming Happenings 2012

This past weekend, I spent too much money.  I lost too much sleep.  I ate too much junk food.  But, it was all worth it.  As all of you know I am a HUGE Appalchian State fan.  Its not often that I make it to Boone with all of my favorites wrapped up into one large weekend.  After a weeklong bout with hacking coughing, runny nose and pounding sinus headaches, I was feeling well enough to pop the Ibuprofen and take on the weekend like a champ. 

Its been 5 years since I've last been a student on campus at App.  When people say, "Go get high on a mountain" there's more than one meaning to be understood.  Being in Boone is amazing.  Life on the mountain slows you down.  The hustle and bustle is put on the back burner for the relaxation and enjoyment of the sights and sounds that Boone has to offer. I promised myself a little R&R this weekend after busting mine at work for a couple of months solid.

My weekend began with the reunification with my best gal pal from App, Carrie.  In college, we were inseperable.  She's the kind that after two months, I can pick up the phone and not a thing has changed.  You don't find many of those these days!  We enjoyed two full days of each other's company accompanied by our Appaholic tailgate friends, some of my Winston girls, and new alumni friends we made while visiting around town and campus.  We visited the new Reich College of Education, hit up the Appalcart for old times' sake, dined at Macado's and tailgated in the gravel.  I noticed in our conversations with other App Alum, things have definetly changed on and around campus.  I loved sharing stories with others about my experiences in Boone and listening to others' renditions of just how deep the snow was while on the way to class.  Boone is it's own culture.

Being in Boone reminds me of how old I am becoming.  Carrie and I tried going out with the best of them two nights in a row, and by the second night, bed time came earlier than anticipated.  Funny thing is, I was fine with it.  Nothing wrong with falling asleep at 7:30 on Saturday night after a full day of fun on the Appalcart, full of interesting characters from all walks of the world, tailgating from 10:30-3:00, lasting through half of the game in chilly Boone weather and treking it back on the Appalcart on the way home.  Needless to say, I caught up on sleep, graded papers, responded to my students' blog posts and planned early this morning.

As I reflect today over the events of the weekend, I don't mind that I spent too much money.  That money was well spent to create memories of lasting friendships that will never fail.  I don't mind that I slept entirely too much.  That just means I'm getting older, and wiser and that Monday mornings kick my butt without the appropriate amount of sleep for my "old" soul.  I don't mind the junk food.  My gut might disagree, but I enjoyed those delicious Boone tastes.  I don't mind catching up on my school work at odd hours of the day.  Starting a school week with loose ends always gets me in tizzy.  I don't mind being a 5 year alumni of App State.  That part, I actually love.  There's nothing finer than being in Boone, and being a Mountaineer. 

Now, for photos:

"The mountains are calling, and I must go..."- John Muir