My Umbrella

After school today, I stood outside at the parent pick up line with a huge umbrella. Two other teachers stood with me, braving the afternoon rainstorm, with smaller umbrellas. I admit that I was a bit pouty and not particularly thrilled... Continue reading →

What a beautiful thing it is to love…

Perched in one of the Bradford Pear trees in the courtyard of the school that I teach at is a beach ball. No one knows exactly how long the beach ball has been there. Most seem to think it got... Continue reading →

A Christmas Rainbow

Leaving our house for the holidays has felt a bit like I am leaving my daughter behind while we are going off to celebrate Christmas. I have struggled a bit with these emotions even though I know that our daughter... Continue reading →

Carry Me

These two pictures define the last few weeks for me. The first is something that I received in the mail. Notice how the stamp says, “Please do not bend,” and it has clearly been bent to fit inside my... Continue reading →

Isabelle’s Stocking

My husband comes from an Italian family with many traditions. There are certain movies that are watched, foods that are always made, and a certain ornament that is always licked (EW!) each Christmas. My own family’s traditions are a bit... Continue reading →

Like a 6th Grader on the First Day of Middle School

Yesterday, I attended a daylong professional development filled with team building activities and group planning time. At the beginning of the day, one of the facilitators shared a quote from motivational speaker Karen Kaiser Clark. “Life is change. Growth is... Continue reading →

Being Thankful is a Choice

In years past, on Thanksgiving, I enjoyed many wonderful meals with family while we shared all of the things for which we were thankful. I can recall numerous childhood Thanksgivings surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Some were spent in... Continue reading →

The Bradford Pear Tree

The school that I teach at is shaped like a donut. In the middle of the donut is a concrete area, several grass patches, and three huge Bradford Pear trees. If you have ever seen a Bradford Pear tree in... Continue reading →

Surviving a Trigger Day

Upon sitting down in church this morning, a woman sitting near us turned to me and asked, “Did you have your baby?” I forced a smile as my heart raced and responded, “ Yes.” She congratulated me and I thanked... Continue reading →

A Very Valuable Lesson

“How has your day been today?” asks a smiling girl at the beginning of my last class of the day. Her jeans are too small and have holes. I have a feeling that things are rough at home for her. ... Continue reading →