my heavy heart

This week my students have been delivering their first speech. I have been so impressed with the speeches! This is an introduction speech where they tell about a vivid memory- a time in their life that impacted them. They tell it in first person using descriptions and details, and there have been many tears shed from both me and my students. Loved ones lost, students battling cancer, involvement in drug raids in Puerto Rico, getting shot during a drive by shooting, calling the police when your mom is being beaten by your dad, giving birth at age 14... these are just some of the many stories I have heard this week. My students are desperately in need of a Savior. I pray that I can be a light and encouragement for them. Will you join me?

i speek crectly

I know. I'm over due for a blog, but let's be honest, it was summer time.

So to catch up or just act like I never took a pause in the blogging....

I'm a little frustrated. You see, my students are on day 2 of their first speech of the semester and many of them either did not write enough or did not do it all. What makes it worse, is they don't care! One student who had to stay for tutorials yesterday so I could make him write his speech (it's amazing what you can do with a simple phone call to mommy... "What?! He hasn't written it? Well I'll tell the coach he wont be at practice until he completes it!") anyway, he said "Man Miss, I was planning on getting to sleep through this class all year."

I think not. English is good, math is great, science wonderful, and history is up there too, but seriously people EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE! Thus the importance of COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS! However, Texas disagrees. They vote on Thursday to see if it will be a required graduation credit. 10 years from now they'll be at some restaurant placing an order and can't understand a single thing the person taking their order says. Wonder what a com app class could have done for them....

I'd like to see the State Board of Education come and challenge my students in the "Ummm... Olympics." My moneys on the kids.

it's the beauty of simplicity

I am 2.5 days away from finishing my first year of teaching. CRAZY! I have been so busy these last few weeks. Ok, I've been busy all year, but especially these last few weeks. God is good though. Here's some updates:

I am teaching one session of summer school. 8 days. It will be good. I'm looking forward to it.
My Shepherd group on Sundays has grown to 14 girls!
Tammi and I combined our small groups for the summer. We are doing "a summer of prayer" and I am SO excited!!!
Free Food Mondays is still doing well. We continue to have a a great turn out each week. God is blessing this ministry.
We got a cat..... (and I kinda like it... who knew!)
My girls back home all graduated! I've been their small group leader since they were in 7th grade! Now they are all going to college! I'm so proud of them!
Summer is almost here and I am ready for a tan!
I've decided to grow my hair back out. I've enjoyed my adult haircut, but I miss ponytails and simplicity.
I'm starting to enjoy running. I still hate it more than I love it, but my heart (or head?) is slowly changing...
I miss my family... a lot.


2.5 more days! Then maybe a reflection on my year... maybe. :)

I pledge allegiance

Every morning at 7:15 AM the school bell rings. I close the door after checking every one's ID as they enter the classroom, reminding them to tuck in their shirts and turn their phones off. The familiar voice of our principal comes over the loud speaker, and we all rise to pledge our allegiance. The students stand, facing the small and pathetic representations of our state and country that are attached to the white board. Some actually look at the flag while others stare at the floor, yawn, or make a face at their friend across the room. On a good day, one or two students may be awake enough to mumble through the pledges, but it means nothing to them. It is just a part of their daily routine, a routine that began years ago on their very first day of school. Now, 13 or so years later, it's no different then brushing their teeth. When did we stop teaching the purpose of this routine? The magnitude of this action; to pledge allegiance to something is anything but routine. It's a commitment, a lifestyle.

According to dictionary.com to pledge allegiance is to solemnly promise the loyalty of a citizen to his or her government. I'll be the first to admit that I fall short of this. I complain along with everyone else about all the mistakes our government is making, certain I have the solution. It's not my fault, I didn't vote for them. When I pledge allegiance, I'm really just promising my loyalty to those in our government who I voted for, leaving me the right to complain about our leaders who I feel are unfit for the role...

My parents raised me better than this. They taught me to have respect for those in authority, even when I disagree with the choices they make. I may not have voted for you, but you were elected and I will support every decision you make because I have pledged my allegiance to this country and its government. I will do my part if you do yours, for I can not pledge my allegiance to a country who does not fight for the values it was founded upon. One Nation UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL. When you take that oath, you are pledging your allegiance to these values, promising to defend them at all costs.

One Nation under God- This is the core of our country. As Derek Webb wrote, "My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man.My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood, it's to a King and a Kingdom." We are to seek God in every decision, keeping Him the CENTER of our nation. Instead, we have taken Him out of the schools and to even speak of Him could cost you your job.

Indivisible- We spend more time trying to obtain the majority, planning for the NEXT election, rather then focus on the here and now. Instead of fighting and defending bills that represent the values we were founded upon, we waste time gossiping and complaining about the red and blue. What happened to the UNITED States of America? I often feel like the Divided States of America is a more appropriate name. Over the last several years the few times I have felt united was during a tragedy like 9/11, Hurricane Katrine and Ike, or the shooting at Virginia Tech. Shouldn't I feel that we are united every single day?

With Liberty- I teach the required speech credit students in Texas must take to graduate from high school. I teach them about the 1st Amendment and their right to freedom of speech, and yet I'm not allowed to share my faith with them. How is this liberty? How is this free? What would Patrick Henry have to say about this? Would he choose our weakened concept of liberty or would he choose death?

Justice for all- I feel so much pride in our country when I hear stories of our troops fighting for justice, or the stories of rescue missions taking place on enemy territory. We fight for the beaten, abandoned, and abused. The jobless, homeless, sick, and the old. However, we draw the line at the unborn. They have no voice, no rights, no choice. How is this just?

I DO pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, because I am a part of that republic. For I believe in a Nation that is one under God, indivisible and united, not just in name but in what we stand for, with liberty and justice for every single being. This is what I pledge to, and as long as our leaders can pledge to this as well they will continue to have my support and respect.

keep the comment questions coming! This is fun!

Beate- I sure would love to travel to Norway, but if I'm going to spend that much money on a flight I want to be there for a while. I only have a limited amount of time this summer... maybe next summer! As far as tips for teaching go... I'm still trying to figure that one out! Praying for my students daily and asking for patience has helped greatly!!

Julie!!!- I'm going to be spending 10 days with the Botacio family (Aylen and her mother worked at Cresta Del Mar each summer with us). During those 10 days Aylen and I will be taking a long bus ride to Costa Rica to spend 3 days with Robert & Nina and help them with a camp they are doing. If there is anyone you want me to take something to or bring something back from please let me know!! I'll be in Tyler in June, and leaving for Panama July 15!!

and so.

so today, i felt like blogging but didn't know what to blog about... and i got this idea.

leave a comment and tell me what to blog about. if no one leaves a comment, then i guess its safe to assume i'm blogging to an audienceless cyber world.

make it interesting. or entertaining. i like both.

comment away blog stalkers!

24.

Yes friends, it is true. Only 24 days left of school. TAKS is over and I'm still alive. Praise the Lord. I will graduate from my certification course May 16th and will officially be a State of Texas Standard Certified Teacher. Thats a mouth full!

This past week I realized something. I've had a challenging year. Teaching has been much harder and demanding than I would have expected. However, despite all the ups and downs, I love my job. I really do! God has blessed me greatly. The school I work at is incredible and my students are wonderful. Of course it's a challenge, but I think that is one of the things that I appreciate so much about it. God has provided me with a wonderful job and I love it! He is so faithful!

My summer is quickly filling up. Here is the summer schedule so far...

JUNE:
June 5- Last day of school
June 6- Teacher work day (ON A SATURDAY!?)
June 7- Cousin Will's graduation
June 9-13 Houston Mission project with youth group
June 16-17 SIOP training for work
June 18-20 Family fishing trip
June 21- Fathers Day/Baptism
June 22-25 ESL Training
June 26-? Home for a few days

JULY:
July 8-July 12 Youth Camp
July 15-24 PANAMA!!
July 30-? Home for a few days.

Summer? What summer? haha. At least it is full of fun things.