Lots to be Thankful for......

Family........little niece......little nephew.......laughter......joy........time together......most importantly, the gift we have in Jesus. The forgiveness and love we receive each day that continues to shape us into who we were made to be.....people that love and forgive without condition and without restraint. That is our prayer and will continue to be our prayer into this new year.

Thanksgiving was yet another reminder of how wonderful it is to spend time with family. Al and Debbie rented a cozy cabin outside of Branson and we all met there.Uncle Dick and Aunt Pam made the trip as well! :) It was a weekend FULL of lots of laughter and LOTS of wonderful food by Debbie and Aunt Pam! In Allison's words, "YUM-O."

Faith LOVED all the leaves outside and was always willing to give us her best "cheezzzzzz." I don't know who had more fun....Faith playing or all of us being entertained by her! We can't believe how much she has grown up already! It seems like every time we see her, she is using new vocabulary and learning new things. She is becoming quite the sweet lil' lady. :)

Here is Faithers and her Uncle Bubba! Faith sure does love her Bubba!

Dan and I felt very blessed to spend time with everyone and had a hard time leaving. We can't wait for the next time we can all get together again! :)

Comments

Sometimes, we aren't okay.

*******I am writing from my own personal perspective. I do not claim to be representing all teachers during this time. We all have had different experiences navigating education during a global pandemic. Some are struggling through far worse and some have been impacted very little. As always, I write for my own processing and with hope of being an encouragement to someone else to keep fighting the good fight. Be honest with yourself and others. Teaching is a different kind of hard right now. It's okay if you're not okay.********* I have had this experience lately that has really started to bother me. I am usually out walking or at the store getting groceries and I run into someone I haven't seen much since school has started. They see me and immediately ask, "How are you? How's school?" Their care and concern is obvious, as is the sweet kindness they are showing, knowing full well school must be a little different right now. Their questio...

Dearest Teacher...You are sure great.

(If I could be with you face to face, I would grab you by the shoulders and speak these words.) Dearest Teacher............ You are sure great. The work you are doing is valuable and immeasurably good. When the questions came and the doubts were cast, You kept going. With a mask or without a mask, You have showed up for your students. Online or in person, You were prepared and poured out excitement for learning Whether you felt it or not. Years have passed. So many days, so many challenges. Criticism and encouragement, And you are exhausted. Covering more classes and dodging sickness. Encouraging words, I know fall short. More self care or a hot bath, Is not the solution nor will sustain you to keep going. Even the "just do it for the kids" feels like a another pour From an empty cup. Do you wonder if your cup has a bottom Or are you drowning in the positivity you hear. You are sure great. Just words. But I'm going to keep speaking their truth-- You are sure grea...

Dear Politicians,

You don't know me, but I am but one in the great army of teachers that wake up each morning ready to take on the challenges that face our public schools today. You don't see me, but I arrive at school early to make sure I have everything in place so that not a minute of precious learning time is wasted with these dear little ones. However, my morning of planning is often interrupted by an ever-swinging door. The door swings open several times every few minutes to former students stopping by to share their latest successes, to show me their new kicks, or to just grab a hug before the day begins. Every once in awhile the door swings opens to a parent wanting to discuss his/her child's progress or a concern that needs my attention. The door also swings open to my colleagues, just checking in to remind me of a deadline or to ask a question about our new curriculum or assessments. And....then my teaching day officially begins. As I prop open that ever swinging door, the real ...

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