Her blue eyes match the color of the evening sky, as I spin wildly, holding her above my head. She laughs, as I continue to spin and dance, marveling at the way the fading clouds capture the joy of my daughter's baby grin. We snuggle and run toward her Daddy across the park's green grass.... Continue Reading →
Smoothies and Seventh Graders {Two new loves}
Spinach, banana, strawberry, fresh ginger, chia seeds, rice protein powder, and coconut milk... Banana, apple, almond milk, almonds, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, almond extract, raw oats, and yogurt... Kale, blueberries, rasberries, chia seeds, rice protein powder, and almond milk... These are some of my favorite smoothie combinations the past couple weeks. Spinach Thai Cocunut. Apple Banana... Continue Reading →
Just checking in…
The days get longer, while the sun continues to rise. I'm so tired. Matter of fact, just about everyone I know is tired. Students and teachers alike dream of Spring Break. Unfortunately, there's not been that much shut-eye time to savor said dreaming. Still, a few words are owed this neglected blog... Perhaps a few... Continue Reading →
Dream World {Ski trip & More}
Wind whips snow drifts haphazardly around manicured bushes and barren tree branches. The world is blanketed in white, and still the white keeps falling, coating, piling. Denver, Colorado, don't hold your breath, but we are apparently in for the "storm of the season." Just days ago I came from mountains of snow - literally -... Continue Reading →
Feeding the thousands {With just two hands}
All too often I wake up with the weight of the day's tasks burdening my all-too-sleepy heart and body. I can become overwhelmed simply considering the needs of my nearly 100 students. I become even more overwhelmed when you add their families, my family, my coworkers and their families to my plate. Then, I turn... Continue Reading →
Goldfish and Good Riddance
Friday at school. And, with no coffee or chocolate to ease the pain that the looming weekend causes students to inflict on one another and on their teachers. I came home with tears in my eyes. Sheer exhaustion and deep cravings for comfort foods dominated my homeward journey. I want coffee bad (pardon my grammar).... Continue Reading →
Beholding the Christmas Season
One day of finals stands between this teacher and her Christmas break. Plates of cookies and a mound of semi-wrapped gifts await my notice (although, to be fair, the cookies have been receiving quite a bit of attention the past few days). Student smiles remain attached to gifts of coffee mugs, pumpkin bread mix, holiday... Continue Reading →
To be perfectly honest…
Amidst the holiday cheer tragedy strikes. Tragedy struck. Tragedy will strike again. I'm confounded by the juxtaposition of life and death. The memories play over and over again. The Spring day eight years ago that my grandmother's chest continued to rise and fall with tubes and machines, so that my uncle could marry his bride... Continue Reading →
Constancy and countdowns
The sun shines brightly through closed-tight window panes. Prisms of light linger on my eyelashes, causing me to squint through the radiance of the wintery glow. I'm thankful that it hangs there in the sky, content to rise and fall, day in and day out, through meandering clouds. It's a symbol of constancy, a reminder... Continue Reading →
Always. Forever. {All of the time}
A walk around neighborhood gravel paths. A set of simple questions. And I am undone. Depressed by my lack of answers. Discouraged by my lack of hope. The inflection in David's voice is nothing but loving as he asks me, "How are you doing? What is God teaching you right now?" Praise God for a... Continue Reading →