P.S. I Hate My Dog

My kids are writing letters to the Dale House Interns where my best friend Anna works. I try to regularly supply Anna with letters and care packages, and she said that some of the other interns were jealous of her frequent mail-joy. So, I put my 20 squirmers to work writing letters to the lonely Dale House Interns. I read them before putting them in the envelope, because I wanted to see what they wrote. One student in particular wrote a lovely letter to one of the interns, asking questions and talking about himself. After signing his name, he'd included a P.S. It was little and squished on the bottom, and when I looked a little closer, I saw that he'd written "P.S. I hate my dog."

Gotta love 'em.

Happy Birthday Zach!

My brother, one of my best friends and partner in crime for the past 23 years turns 26 today. I am trying to do birthday posts for people, and so today I was trying to think of a fun memory to share of my brother. There are so many to choose from. I can't really put into words what having an older brother is like, and I think everyone who has an older brother would agree with me. He let me tag along with him and his friends growing up, he was my safety net when we had to ride the bus together to school in Czech, he was my ride places in high school and he is now a friend who pushes me to be the best person I can be. I think every girl should have an older brother.

When I think of growing up with Zach, one of the first things that comes to mind is what we now fondly call "the dweeb era." This was the part of our life that takes place in the home schooled, cartoon van driving, red pants wearing, grape pop drinking time. We built forts, went swimming a lot and tried to sell crap to our parents. It was during this time that my Barbie was forced to marry Bravestar, and we always had a difficult time finding a place for them to live because the lincoln logs could only build houses that were so high. Poor Barbie had to duck to fit through those doors.

Anyone who knows Zach can appreciate and understand his genuine spirit and care for others. He builds people up and challenges them with his actions and words. He is someone what I am so proud to not only know, but call my brother. Happy Birthday bro!

In Other News

I've fixed the pencil sharpener. When it broke I told my kids that if it didn't get fixed they'd have to sharpen their pencils with their teeth. I think they are happy it's working again.

Searching for Space

I have been challenged recently to find some space in between my life at school and my real life. My job is so intensive that I have a hard time leaving work at work and truly separating myself from that. I remember last summer when I went home and spent the summer in Minnesota with the family that I nannied for throughout college. I had a hard time just relaxing and letting go of my job, I felt a little lost, like I always should be doing something.

Anyway, I have been trying to not just leave work at work during the week in a physical sense (I haven't been bringing my school work home to do at home except for planing on the weekends) but mentally as well. I am trying to do things for me, just for me, things I want to do. I have been going to the Y more than I had been, listening to some good tunes on my IPod while I run. Running is not my favorite thing to do because it is hard and hot and sweaty, but it does clear my mind. I started going tanning (yes I know, skin cancer kills) but I am tired of being pasty white when it is warm enough to be wearing skirts and flip flops. I have also devoted Thursday evenings to be a night where I get some quality girl time with friends. It has been just Laurel and I for the past few weeks, but tonight my friend Vanessa from work is going to join us. We're going to Oeno in downtown Wichita...it should be fun.

Why is it that we let our work consume us? Don't get me wrong, I love my job and I believe it is such a ministry and with that aspect of it, my work becomes something I am emotionally connected to because of how passionate I am about what I do. However, my job is not who I am. That does not define me. I am, and will always be, an individual regardless of my job and what I do. I think about my parents and the past year. It has been a tough ride for them with jobs and searching for what the next step will be. Perhaps this is because we as a family were so emotionally tied to the job they had, and maybe in that we let it define us a little bit. Our jobs shape us, but they are not who we are. And beyond jobs, many things can cloud who we are. How many of us when introducing ourselves say "I am married to so and so, or I have 3 kids, or I work at such and such a place." These material things can all disappear.

So then the question becomes, if my job is not who I am, then who am I?

Time for some soul searching...

Drama, Drama, Drama

My motto for the week - Leave the drama for your mama.

It's going to be a doozy, I can already tell.

Feel Good Stuff

There are moments in teaching when a student does something that warms your heart and reminds you why you do this day in and day out. I call this feel good stuff. Here is my latest addition to my feel good stuff. (I kept the original spelling)

"My luky day is when I first moved to cloud. Because my teacher was nice and prety and had lots of style. And be funky."

Beauty

I took this picture, and I am very proud of it.