Habits worth Having

As I was preparing for the first day of school, this was in my quiet time. The scripture was 2 Peter 3:18. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The article suggested that we make these four habits regular activities.

• Habit of prayer.
• Habit of study.
• Habit of giving (and helping).
• Habit of fellowship.

Wow! How wonderful school would be if teachers and students were to diligently and continuously work on these habits. I have made it my goal for this new school year.

O, What a Wonderful Day

August 19, 1977

12 + 3 (+2) + 33 = a lot of school

       Education has been a MAJOR part of my life. Only my family, a relationship with God and my church (FBC), are higher on my list than education. This week starts my thirty-third year of education as a job. It has been a very fast 32 years. I walked into a high school class room two weeks after turning 21 years old facing seniors three years younger than me. I was the adult in this situation, and I was to control and teach the kids. WOW! What an awesome job! Thank you, Harvey Wilson, where ever you are for giving me my first job.
     In 32 years I have taught students - homemaking, English, reading, special ed. math, middle school technology, ESL, speech, careers, LMS, and hobbies. I have done senior trips, proms, Loy Lake, FHA conventions, tech conventions, GT programs, school newspapers, cookbooks, banquets, bus duty, lunch duty, study hall, carnivals, concession stands and yearbooks.  I cannot even guess how many wonderful students that I have come in contact with. What great memories.
     I have seen many changes in education. In testing we have gone from LBAS, TABS, TEAMS, TAAS,  to TAKS with the STAAR test on the horizon. I typed my first tests on typewriters with correct-o-type tape and made copies on the mimeograph machines with purple ink. I used a real chalk board with chalk and erasers that had to be dusted outside on the sidewalk.
    It has been a great ride, and I am excited to see what this new school year has in store.  I still love my job and extremely proud to be an educator in Gunter ISD.

American Idol 9 - The finale

     Rick and I do not watch much television. It is hard to get much television watched when he doesn't think we should sit down on the couch until 9:00 at night, and that is only if it is too hot to sit on the patio. However, because of one of Chad's exes that we met last year, we became obsessed with American Idol. We DVRed every episode and watched them with passion as we did our own judging.
     When the tour was announced at the end of the season, Rick said that we should go. So Monday night was our reunion with our American Idol friends that came into our lives and living room this spring. It was a great reunion to see how much each of them have improved and what kind of songs they would choose when there was no theme to follow for the show. It was a great concert with a wide variety of music. The kids did not disappoint us. I think Simon would even have been impressed.
The three things that I left with from this finale of American Idol 9 are:

• The winners were truly grateful to the audience for making it possible for them to be a winner because of their texting votes in. Yes, I did vote/text Rick and my favorites after the shows.
• The kids were genuinely humble about getting to do what they love to do.
• They repeatedly told the younger audience to follow your dreams. That they are proof that dreams do come true.

What a great way to end a season!

Happy Birthday to Me

      Another year of my life has come and gone. I have to say that it is OK. I wrote in someone's birthday card this week that was turning 40 that  "after years of experience, getting old is not all bad." Diana and I laugh a lot about how our perspective on different things have changed as we have "matured."
     I read an editoral in the newspaper about Will Rogers thoughts on growing older. These were several that I can relate to:

• The older we get, fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
• One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.
• Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

     When I was a young teacher I was concerned about the clothes that I would be wearing to school. A great deal of emphasis was spent on shopping sales for clothes and shoes.  Kids, I know you have many memories of the Saturday morning shopping excursions. Chad, I know this is when you got the infamous beating with the high heel shoe. However, now I am not concerned so much about whether the clothes are cute and stylish, but that the body is covered. Mr. Rogers, I understand about being comfortable. No more high heels and pointed-toed shoes for this lady!

    The reason I do activities, whether it is traveling, eating, sleeping, or doing something crazy, is because "I CAN." I just heard a Hall of Famer say that "life is a gift", which leads me to my last thought on aging. I have to mention how much God has blessed me in my life - so that "I CAN". I give God all the glory for the years of my life.