Thankful

After going to the dentist yesterday and hearing about the troubles of small business and the unhappiness of people in the business world, I went to work this morning very thankful that I have a job that I love.

One of my favorite things about my job is listening to my students when they don't know I am listening, or when they are in with another teacher. Today was no exception:

While my students were in art I was sitting in my classroom planning. The kindergarten rooms are an open classroom plan, so my room connects to the other kindergarten room. I could hear the other teacher introducing a book that addressed the issue of lying. She was doing a wonderful job of setting the kids up to talk about why lying isn't good. She asked the students to share why they thought it was bad to lie:

"Because you will go to hell."

There is was. The simple and honest truth as perceived by a five-year-old. Lying=bad, bad=go to hell. Duh. Oh my goodness, I could not stop laughing! The little girl said it so casually and honestly. It was so funny! I don't think my colleague anticipated that response. :)

It's funny to hear the perceptions and interpretations of kindergartners. Today we had a lock down drill and as we were all crammed into a tiny space I heard the whispers of my students to each other: "The monster is going to come in." "Shh, the ugly guy will hear us." "Move over, I'm scared of the dark." "Me too! Hold my hand." (These voices, to my surprise, came from under a desk that I thought only housed 3 terrified kindergartners, but in actuality was home to no fewer than 6).

These comments are great especially when you put them into context with the actual conversation I had with them about lock downs prior to the drill. A few days ago we had a real lock-out (we have to stay locked in our classrooms but can go on with class as usual, but there is a threat outside of the building--in this case a suspected armed man in the neighborhood.) After the lock-out was lifted the principal came on the intercom to tell the staff and students that we were safe and that there had been a "scary man" who we needed to make sure we were safe from. Well, you can't say "a scary man" to kindergartners because they think of a villain from some horror movie and for the rest of the day operate under the assumption that there is a man who looks like Freddie Kruger running around outside of the school, chainsaw in hand. I had to try to explain that no, there was not a monster outside, just someone who was not making safe or wise choices. It's hard to explain to a five year-old that some people make choices that can lead to hurting others. They are so innocent that they cannot imagine anyone wanting to hurt someone else on purpose, so they just assume that it is an actual monster. :)

On the plus side, my kids are now very practiced at lock-outs, lock-downs, and lock-ins. They are also really, really good at fitting into small spaces. I can proudly tell you that I can fit 20 students into one bathroom stall. I can also fit 6-7 under a teacher desk, 4 between a wall and filing cabinet, and if challenged, could probably fit all my kids into a space that is only 3X3 feet. Yeah, we are that good. :) I had no idea that my extraordinary packing and organizing skills would come in so handy as a teacher!

"Procrastination isn't the problem, it's the solution. So procrastinate now, don't put it off." Ellen

I should be finishing up my report cards and recording my Take My Teacher Home iPod lessons for the week, but instead I decided to update you all on my latest music downloads. Lucky you! :)

Last night, while once again procrastinating, I decided to try to find some relaxing music to listen to while I worked on report cards. An hour later and way off my intended search I ended with a cart full of good songs (some old and some new favorites). Here are some of the ones you should check out...



We All Need Saving by Jon McLaughlin

Broken Strings by James Morrison and Nelly Furtado

You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby) by Jack's Mannequin

It's Amazing by Jem

Soon We'll Be Found by Sia

That's How Strong My Love Is by Otis Redding (an old cover, but a good one)

Never Bloom Again by the Perishers

Days Go On by Greg Laswell

Human by The Killers

Matt Hires has a good sound too, got a few of his songs, but not my favorite out of them all

The Heartache Can Wait by Brandi Carlile--I LOVE Brandi, so even though this is a bit of a Christmas song I think it is great.

Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson (ahh how I love Ingrid and her off-beat character) :)

Both those songs are from the Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs album- which I like a lot too. (Hotel Cafe always has great artists).

P.S. For some reason I was in a Christmas mood last night, so some are holiday songs...sorry I guess the stores putting out their Christmas things in September has brainwashed me.

"I will cure you and will reveal unto you the abundance of peace and truth"

The fall has always been one of my favorite times of year. I love the cool weather and the feeling of "home." I was excited to see the leaves turn more then just brown and yellow in Colorado this year. When I was in Michigan I was always amazed by how beautiful the leaves were, the colors were so...amazing! :) My roommates loved to make fun of my enthusiasm for the leaves.

I always miss Michigan and my family and friends there the most this time of year. Before I moved back to Colorado in 2006 I had spent 7 straight Thanksgivings with my aunt and uncle. It has been really hard going from seeing them weekly for four and a half years to not seeing them for over a year! Two weekends ago my Uncle was out here on a quick trip to pick up a car from my grandpa. I hadn't seen him since the previous summer and was anxious to see him healthy and on the mend after a scary year with cancer. My dad and grandpa drove back to MI with him and spent a week out there with the family. They got back on Friday and shared stories of my cousins' kids and how much they have all grown. Of course, this made me miss them all the more and convinced me that I need to drive out to Michigan over Thanksgiving this year. So, if my poor old car decides it can make it, and the weather isn't too bad I fully plan on visiting over the week of Thanksgiving. I can't wait! Hopefully my lovely friends there will be able to spend a day or so with me while I am there too. (Hint, hint!)

My desire to go back to Michigan this fall increased greatly this weekend after some news from my aunt. My uncle has had some pain in his back for the past few weeks and ended up in the ER on Saturday. They found a mass on his kidney. They have not said cancer, but there is raising concern that it could be renal neoplasm, which is cancer of the kidney. Needless to say, this has been a rough and dissapointing weekend. My aunt and uncle of course are strong in their faith and know that it is all in God's hands. Anyone who knows me knows that my aunt and uncle mean the world to me, so it comes as no surpise that this news has, as my aunt says, "knocked the wind out of my sails." I ask that you all keep my uncle and family in your prayers. Please pray for his healing and that God will cure my uncle and will "reveal an abundance of peace and truth" to us all.