What is love?

This Valentine's Day is a good time to wonder about the true meaning of love. The Bachelor seems to think that a few quick dates over 1 to 2 months is enough to know if you have truly found lasting love. I have found that it is more about the little things and spending real time. Does he/she look at you strange when you're just being yourself? Do they make eye contact when you tell a story? Do they look for little ways to show they care? Do they focus on your imperfections or beautiful qualities? We all should ask ourselves if we are giving just as much love as we are receiving every day. There is no shame in giving more than we receive.

Finding Joy amid chaos

Every day there are reasons to be frustrated, worried or annoyed. It can be so easy to see the negative aspects of life, but some days... you can wake up to bright white powdery snow and watch a bird lightly hop across, just barely scathing the surface. These are days when simple joys are experienced and hope is renewed once again.

Don't you wish...

This year I have a new challenge in my class..there is always at least one. Among all of the many joys that she provides in my room, my favorite has to be random burping, humming, eating like a monkey and crying like Chewbacca. But yesterday as I was helping her with writing..I had the special treat of hearing one of her lovely ballads.. "Don't you wish your girlfriend was HOT like me!! Don'tchya wish..." you know the song. She says "My daddy always sings that song!" When I was 5 I sang "Once there was a snowman, Popcorn popping and Have a gratitude Attitude!" Times have changed indeed:)

A new year..

It has been a while..so I have a new class this year and it has already been very interesting. From the runny noses to the hugs and "I love you". I gain a perspective each day into the deep level of patience and determination required to guide children with love. I am in awe at how children love the smallest things in life. Each of my students are examples to me and I am grateful for that.

That's my sista's name!!

The great thing about kids is the how big of a deal everything is and sometimes they will do just anything to get out of trouble. Within the first few weeks of the school year, a boy told me, "She said you are mean." I glanced at the girl and she insisted that she was talking about her sister. That, in fact, her sister's name just happened to be Mrs. Utley. She really thought she had me. :) I almost started rolling on the floor laughing.