Summer Camp!

Summer has arrived. Just like clock work, exactly 2 weeks after school is out I am off to Jan Kay Ranch for teen camp. I attended teen camp my sophomore year through my grad year. I've now been going to camp as a counselor since the Summer of 2005. There have been some great memories. Once we were caught in a storm with straight line winds. We were trapped inside a building with no power for a long time and rain most of the week. You're probably thinking, that can't be a great memory. Well, it definitely changed a lot of our plans at camp, but in so many unexpected and wonderful ways. We were able to get to know people we were not intending to get to know. We worshiped in the dark, which can be very...well... I don't know what it can be? But, you should try it. It's almost as if I feel more transparent to God. No one else is looking...well because they can't see you.
I'm excited that my niece and nephew have been going to camp. This will be their 3rd summer. I like that they enjoy it. Honestly, I don't know what draws them back to it. Well, I do I think. God. Yeah, the social aspect of camp is always fun. But, we do a lot of sitting in the Town Hall listening to speakers. Speakers for missions, real life stuff, and bible preachin'. Yeah, a lot meaning like 3 times a day often times for an hour or more each time. I guess my thoughts are...that doesn't sound like a summer camp teens would want to go to because it takes away from their social life. But, surprisingly enough many youngsters like C&B are drawn back each summer. I pray they are touched and moved in ways that will ruin them for life.
Every year I attempt to be a super counselor. Then, I get there and I am always out-shined by one of the others. She's amazing...and the girls all want to be in her cabin. She's got cool snacks, decorations for her themed cabin, goodie bags, sweet tunes for fun a late night dance party, and loads of fun nail polish. Man oh Man...I think I want to be in her cabin too! Well, we'll see how it goes. I look forward to ooing and awwing over your cabin again this year, K! ;)

Here's a few pics from last year at Impact 2010

 B swinging

 My B.F.F. - I'll miss you this year at camp!

B's friend for the week...attached at the hip...we'll miss you this year C!

 The swing that will keep one entertained for hours.

The Lake

Dancing in the rain

JoJo

Taradacdules  pardon my spelling

Time for banquet 

Oh V...

Rocco, Kiki, & Bam Bam

So here's to another great week at camp! 

Technology Strengths and Weakness

The following is a view of my current strengths and weaknesses in technology as an educator for a class I am enrolled in. 

This past year our school has been able to really reap the benefits of our recent Title I status. We were able to budget for some great new technology. In one year I went from an old time-y overhead projector (transparencies and all) to a state of the art projector, document camera, and a promethean (smart)board. As an educator, I feel like I have a great strength in learning quickly and teaching others when it comes to technology. On the flip side, my weakness would be that I am good at learning the basics, but it takes me longer to figure out all the small details on the "ins and outs" of how a device operates. Eventually, time goes by and I am forced to research the small details. I have found when I do struggle I can turn to Atomic Learning. My school district has provided us full access to the site in order to find answers to common questions with programs and devices we may have in the classroom. 

Here's to Summer

Summer is lurking just around the corner. 9 days with the students and 10 at work! I've got lots of big plans  and Summer Dreams...

Catch up on reading... Here's a few I've got in mind:

and...

Then there's church camp at Jan Kay Ranch with Oasis. 

I love hangin' with the teens...

even these...

Two days...yes TWO DAYS after that it's off to Alaska. Mission in Alaska that is...for 2 weeks!

Though my best friend is from the large state and this visit is nothing much for her...I for one am looking forward to the experience of a lifetime. 

I'd also like to see a beach before the Summer's end. Even if it's Galveston for a few days...

I've got some bitter sweet life changes following the Summer. Not to mention I'm turning 30. Which I plan on celebrating on a...

So there you have it.

As I sat through a worship service this morning we sang this song and I've been singing it all day.  Even though I have these many changes are just around the corner all I want is the Lord's will to be done in me. 

Pepperally

Yes... I know... It's been a while.
I blame it on the T-WORD. You know... every teachers nightmare. State testing. It's a very mind consuming thing. It makes me moody. Just ask my friends.
Today was the mark of the very near end. If you ask my kids what we call it. They would callit a "pepperally". I then follow with, "who's bringing the pepper?" It's one small thing about my kids that makes me giggle.
Today we did a flash mob at our pep rally. I'm not a dancer, but some teachers will go the extra mile for their students. They'll eat whip cream even though they hate it. I gotta hand it to the teachers at B Elementary. They've got a lot of love and might I add some newly revealed mad dance skills to show for.

Driving home from Sam Walton's Store tonight... I found a new tune my students and I will be jammin' to next Thursday when the dog days of the T-WORD are over.

Spring Break Project

I recently purchased a new television. My old television fit well in a wardrobe from my bedroom furniture.  The new television just wouldn't fit.  It just so happened that we were having a parking lot sale for our upcoming mission trip to Alaska, which we raised a whopping $1300.00! Anyway...I was interested in purchasing a little something I could refinish on my own for my new t.v. This little green monster was screaming at me from the moment I arrived to price things...

I forgot to take a pic before I started stripping...the chest that is. It had 3 drawers with some very plain Jane knobs. 

I converted the top drawer into a shelf for the DVR and such and spray painted her a turquoiseish color.  I'm on a hunt for the perfect knobs.

 I know what I want and it looks a little something like this...

I'm just not willing to pay 28 bucks a piece! OUTRAGEOUS! One knob would cost more than the $25.00 shelf itself.

Oh, yes... and I also purchased this little ditty for $3.00! I've been wanting a little something like a sidetable to put near my doorway. So this little cutie joined the turquoiseish club. The rest of my wood furniture in my apt. has an espresso finish. I thought this would compliment them well with my blueish/turquoiseish accents. 

Got any tips on knobs? Think I could make them?

The Dreaded Phone Call

I despise a phone call that can leave you running, speeding, and over thinking to your next destination. The first time I remember a dreaded phone call was when I was 18 and having just graduated from high school. I was at church camp. It was the only year the senior girls were aloud to stay in the "white house" since camp was packed. This is an extreme privilege with full size beds, showers with a tub, and a living room! All very different from the bunk bedded cabins, smelly carpet and see through shower stalls. I remember being in the dining hall when the phone call came. My mother was rushed to the hospital. My mother at the time was 52 years old and in her 13th year of living with the crippling disease, Multiple Sclerosis. By then, she was already confined to the bed and losing what remained of her left hand function. Her dominant (the right) was first to go.  I remember the hallway where I accepted the call. I remember watching the line of teenagers go by watching me, as tears streamed down my face I learned that mom was in the hospital and her kidneys were engulfed in stone and she was losing a lot of blood. I remember wondering if I'd ever see my mom again. Thankfully, the doctors were able to dissolve the stones in surgery and she recovered fully.

Last year, while at work the next one came. I was in my classroom teaching a math lesson. My classroom telephone rang for probably the tenth time that day. My school secretary was on the other end of the line and my Aunt Norma was on hold. The secretary asked if it was okay to put her through. As I waited for the line to ring again I knew something was wrong and my heart immediately began to race. This time it was my dad. He had come home early from work and was now in bed and could not move. Naturally, I thought it could have been a stroke. As I hung up the phone and turned around, in walked another teacher to relieve me. I remember being speechless. She simply said, go. I went. I was driving... no speeding down Beltline Rd. wondering what do I do? My father is the one I always go to in times like these. He's the care giver. He always goes over and beyond with care for his wife.  I arrived at home and much to my fathers disliking I called an ambulance. It's not an easy feeling following a loved one in an ambulance to the hospital. Fortunately, this is another story that happens to have a good ending. He had an extreme case of vertigo and was able to go home that evening.

A week ago, at the end of the day I just happened to pick up my cell phone to send a coworker a text when I saw I had a missed call and a text from my Dad. It was unusual for that time of day. All the text said was "call me as soon as you can." Immediately, my heart began to race. I called my dad and the unthinkable had happened to my mother. Her nurse had somehow dropped her and my mother had a possible broken shoulder. Again, I found myself speeding down Beltline Rd. The outcome is not final on this one. Tomorrow we go to the doctor to see what to officially do about the break. I'm nervous. She hasn't sat in a wheelchair since before the accident. I pray she can stand it.

It's not an easy transition as my parents get older and I begin to make the decisions - sometimes even for them. It's bittersweet when my dad asks for advice on how to handle my mother's current situation. It's responsibility I'm willing to take at a moments notices yet, wish I never had to.

I'm Gonna Let It Shine

I've been pondering a lot lately about sharing. The spark of the thought began at Student Conference a.k.a. Planet Wisdom a.k.a. PWiz. The lead singer of the band who lead worship that weekend told us about his church having a theme each year. This year's theme this year is to share. They were encouraged to share their faith wherever they are and daily. He began to tell us of a time he was in a bookstore and thinking about his pastor's challenge to share. Before the singer entered the bookstore he prayed that he would be able to share with someone. Long story short...God was listening. He was able to share with a man of another faith.
The very next day at my home church the fire began to ignite as my pastor was preaching on Luke 10. You can't help but hear the  message of sharing in "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out the workers into his harvest field." My pastor prompted on more than one occasion to share that day.
Today, a week later, I would have thought that Martha Hartley had read my mind and decided I needed a song to go along with my thoughts of sharing. Martha often comes to me with a song she's heard on the radio and a request for me to sing it. She hit the nail on the head with this one. She asked if I had heard "This Little Light of Mine". I chuckled and said, "of course!" She proceeded to inform this version was much different than the one we teach the children. The version she was referring to is sung by Addison Road. Mrs. Hartley has great taste in music for her age and her song request is just the kindle I needed for my flame.
This past week we purchased our tickets to Alaska for our "Mission in Alaska". This was huge for our team. Knowing that we have our tickets is making it much more real in my mind. It's got me thinking a lot about our purpose in the village we will be ministering to. Hopefully, we can share a message of hope to the children and adults. Maybe our message will go a little like the song from Martha... "There will be days when you wanna give up, when the clouds settle in, after the rain comes the Son... don't forget.
One day there will be no more pain, and we will finally see Jesus' face. So until then, I'm gonna try to brave the dark and let my little light shine."
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Someone recently asked me what I was going to give up for lent this year. I think I have finally decided. I'm going to give up darkness. I hope to share and let my little light shine.