Friday, June 28, 2013

This is the teacher I strive to be ...


She has dual vision, able to simultaneously see a student's current state and their potential.
She is quick to affirm what a child is already doing, even if the child can't articulate it, helping to identify the skill and move it to a place of cognitive awareness.
She tailors instruction to meet each child at their level, building in small increments so each step can be mastered.
She teaches skills and concepts in context instead of using seemingly meaningless exercises.
Once students have learned a skill, it isn't discarded, but instead new skills and concepts are layered on, increasing the student's sophistication.
She focuses not only on technical skills, but on a positive attitude, individual goal setting, perseverance to achieve those goals, and the intrinsic sense of worth that comes from growth and success.
She makes you feel like it is truly an honor to be your teacher.

 
 
 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Almond Joy Creamer

Wow, Indulging in a bit of Almond Joy creamer (my littlest introduced me to this) this morning with some praying girlfriends from work. It's not on "7" but it tastes so very good and it goes along well with the Word, prayer and fellowship. Remembering it's the practice not the perfection ...



Monday, June 17, 2013

"7" Day 17, Father's Day


Well if you thought I would host Father’s Day at our home, watch the daughter’s prepare hamburgers, brats, homemade potato salad, salsa and special K bars and not eat any of this meal because none of these foods were on my list of 7 foods for the month of June you are wrong!

Today I fell off seven and considering this is the first day of the week this could be a not so promising week on 7. I reminded myself that when I do a month of 7 foods again I will not choose the month of June because of graduation open house, weddings, Father’s Day and the family birthdays that fall in the month of June not to mention the end of the school year celebrations.
I pretty much stayed within 7 throughout last week with the exception of June 10 when the golfer and I celebrated with a monthly date night and coffee lover’s like-it ice cream for me and on Wednesday a lunch with fellow colleagues of Jimmy John’s (ham not chicken).
 
I leave you with this picture of my grandson Sid enjoying Father's Day at our home!
 
 

Saturday, June 15, 2013

FMFMP (five minute flash mob party) Listen


LISTEN   

Taking 5 minutes to write today no edits …

START:

Listen, I am now out of school for the summer

Because of this I have intentionally planned time:

To listen to my Father by spending extended time in His word

To listen to my girlfriends over coffee

To study the bible with my girls group and listen to their prayer requests

To listen to my music daughter over donuts on Fridays

To listen to my grandchildren, one at a time when I spend each Friday with a different child each week (today was with Pru)

To listen to the Blooms book club and the words from Shauna Niequist, author of bread and wine

And finally I will listen to some authors as this is my current list of books on my end table:

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Crispin by Avi

Running for my life by Lopex Lomong

Leading Change in Your School by Douglas Reeves

The Blessing of Friendship (Focus on the Family)

Biblical Fasting (Kay Arthur)

END

(I have to admit this took me a bit more than 5 minutes)

Linking up here:
 

 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

a simple but profound heart of gratitude



Dear Nan and Dianne,

Thank you for speaking the truth into my life today especially in regards to the due process position, kindness, and bullying. I have a lot to learn and, Nan, as you so appropriately stated many more years in which to learn. :-)

You both have empowered me for good and right thinking. As I walk by faith I am excited and looking forward to the changes and opportunities the 2013-2014 school year will bring!

With a grateful heart, B.

Saturday, June 08, 2013

"7" Day 7 and 8

Linking up here:



1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..


 


So here goes not edits:

start

Fall it's what I did on day 7 of "7" I fell (past tense of fall) yesterday at Milton's when I ate chicken, bread, and water on my list of 7 but finished it off with a few bites of banana foster.
It's OK that I fell ... I gave myself permission to fall because after all it was my oldest daughter's birthday celebration.

Fall it's what I did on day 8 of "7" I fell for the dish of M&M"s as I saw my daughter Kelley reach into the bowl at Jacob's graduation open house. Mind you  ... I stuck with"7" all day and it was not until 8 pm tonight that I reached into that bowl of candy. No good reason for reaching my hand into the candy dish and of course I felt crummy for fall(ing)

Why can't I remember to pray when tempted ... remembering

"no temptation has seized me accept what is common to man yet God will provide I way of escape"

... falling into the I'm sorry please forgive me mode for thinking only about what I wanted (the banana foster and the M&M's). Now falling into forgiveness cause that's what He does when we come to Him!


stop

Hoping and praying not to fall tomorrow on day 9 ....

Monday, June 03, 2013

7 Day 3

The day started well and I was confident that it would continue to go well when low and behold ... I stopped in the staff' lounge at work.

I never have any trouble with the pastries, cookies and brownies that often make there way into the lounge but when I see this:


yep chocolate ... any kind of chocolate but today it was little Hershey miniatures and kisses I always help myself. Today I walked by this basket of chocolate 2 times resisting. But I have to say the 3rd time I saw these chocolates and when it was right after my lunch (which is a normal time I would have just a little something sweet) I caved. Yep, I ate a little bit of chocolate today!!0Z&@ ? Darn!

After lunch I got right back on 7 after slipping and falling. Next time I am tempted I am going to pray and ask God to be enough ... to be more than chocolate to me and I know He will! I know that He can be enough as I turn my heart towards Him. I don't know why I did not think to ask Him to help me resist but .... lesson learned and I will turn to Him in the future ... this 7 thing is new to me so I have a lot to learn ... I want to be patient with myself,  not too hard on myself. Tomorrow is a new day!

7 day 2

Jesus, may there be less of me and my junk food and more of You and Your kingdom.

This is what Jen says on Day 1 in her book ....

Thinking that this 7 experiment is not just about thinking I am eating better, but being drawn to the heart of God, in the midst of doing without brats, Cheetos, and desserts at the picnic today, after my daughter-in-law's baptism at Minnehaha Falls!
 

 

Saturday, June 01, 2013

7 begins today June 1, 2013

In an attempt to make better choices of food for my face and to learn more about just how much food we have and are free to eat I am stepping into a month of 7 modeled after Jen Hatmaker's book 7 an experimental mutiny against excess.

Product Details

I read this book last Spring and I took the month on stress seriously and began a month with 7 daily pauses. Now this summer, I am going to do a month of 7 foods.

I love that I am not in this alone. Like Jen who had her "council" I have my littlest, Ashley and my sister-in-law, Marlee doing the experiment with me so ....

My seven foods are:
  1. chicken
  2. eggs
  3. cheese
  4. gluten free white mountain bread from Byerly's
  5. apples
  6. romaine
  7. spinach
I also made a plan for a few condiments; Almond Butter form Whole Foods, Gluten Free Braswell's of Georgia Vidalia Onion and Summer Tomato gourmet dressing from Cub Foods, and olive oil which I purchased here  http://www.vinaigrettemn.com/_o/store-location-hours.html
I picked up Italian herb vinaigrette ... yum!
I finished my shopping by stopping at Trader Joe's to pick up my cheese romaine and spinach.

I forgot to say my drinks for the  month will be:
  1. water
  2. tea
  3. lactose-free mild

This is what I fixed for the next 3 days lunch ...


Salad in a jar ... supper healthy
 
from bottom to top:
dressing
salad slaw
onions
chicken marinated in Italian Herb oil
hard-boiled egg
cheese
spinach and romaine layered and packed in
5 of my 7 foods
Can't wait for lunch time tomorrow!
 
 
 


Saints Game (Military Appreciation Night)

We  were fortunate to receive free tickets to the Saints game last Saturday evening and when we could not find any adults to go with us .... we decided to take Sid and Pru.

So glad we did 'cause we had so much fun watching these 2 preschoolers at there first Saints game. Enjoy the pics ..



Bumpa and Sid

Nana and Pru

the cotton candy was a big hit