Strong Families Have Vision

I meditated this morning for 10 minutes. It's something I haven't done in a long time. It was good to clear my head, as there are so many thoughts running through my mind.

Does this happen to you? Do all the things you "have to do" plus all the things going on around you, keep you awake at night? I just wish I could shut off my thoughts.

And then I've also been reflecting on the sermon I heard last night...

Selflessness is the Key to Family Strong

I love my church.

It truly makes me a better person, and trust me, I've come a long way.  It teaches me how to navigate through life and be a better wife, mother, teacher, a better me.

The current series at my church is called Family Strong and it's just that...focusing on the things that make a family strong.

Would You Travel Alone?

I've eaten alone. Gone to the movies alone. I've even ran the world's largest 10K in the world...alone. But this I have never done.

So. Would you? Travel alone?

And I don't just mean getting on a plane alone and then meeting friends or family at your destination. I mean getting on a plane solo, traveling to a new state or some exotic new country...by yourself...and spending the remainder of that trip by yourself?

Could you do it? Would you?

On Drinking

A friend, who I'm just getting to know, asked me a question today.  It's interesting because her question is one I'm always curious to ask new friends.  Especially my Christian ones...

Turning Six

Buddy Roller turned six yesterday.  We didn't plan on having a party for him because I don't believe kids need a party every year.  I do think that birthdays, however, should be a special day.  So after discussing it with The Hubs, we decided to throw a last minute celebration together.  Like three days before!

There were no formal invitations.  Just word of mouth the evening of by knocking on the doors of Roller's friends in our neighborhood, and I did invite two of his favorite buddies via text.  There was no fuss. No frills.  Just pizza, cake, drinks and a few munchies. But there was flag football (The Hubs' idea) since Roller has shown a growing interest in football lately (really not to my approval), some little guys running around with swords, some dancing to Whip and Nae Nae, a little bit of electronics, board games and some six year old fun.

Lessons learned. Birthday celebrations can be stress free and easy to plan. And. Flag football is so much fun. We are definitely going to be playing more of that in the future...

Tip #4 - Get to Know Your Students

I’m now well into my second week of the school year with my students. It’s been an exciting and thrilling time for me. Students are still learning, and still practicing their routines and procedures, and since they're 6th graders, I suspect we'll be practicing well into next week as well. 

Now that we have our routines, almost underway, it's time to do something really important and that brings me to tip #4 from a so-called "veteran teacher"...

The Thing about Running

I can't remember exactly what circumstances led me to running. I think it had to do with my vivacious friend Bridget talking me into running Atlanta's Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day several years ago.  I remember thinking what have I gotten myself into this time?  Back then I was no runner. I couldn't even run a mile without stopping. How in the world would I run 13.1 miles?

But that's the thing about running. If you do. You can.

There's just something magical and empowering about the way I feel after I run. It's a certain accomplishment...the feeling that I can do anything if I put my mind to it, and somehow I am more peaceful in my mind and thoughts...even though there is still much to do and accomplish. I vividly remember the day I completed my first nine miles. It was the week before the half marathon and Bridget and I had gone to a beautiful trail along the Chattahoochee River.  I was the girl who couldn't run a mile, and here I was running the longest distance I had ever ran in my life.  It was the best feeling in the world. I could do anything I wanted. Running did that for me.

If only I had running when I was a teenager...

You see, I discovered running and it's benefits as an adult. But I know running would have been equally beneficial to me as a teenager as I'm sure I would have dealt with life, my roller coaster emotions, and the whole idea of "fitting in" a whole lot better. I remember moving to the United States from Jamaica at the tender age of 14. I was in a new country, a new school, and I didn't feel like I belonged at all. I felt awkward and self-conscious, like an outsider. If only I had had something like running to build my confidence and self-esteem. If only I had had a running club to build me up, on the many days I felt so down.

I've been thinking about running a lot this weekend.  At the end of last school year, I was asked to be one of the coaches for our girls' running club, and I enthusiastically said yes! It's an awesome organization called Girls on the Run, and even though I've been a running buddy for students before, this time I will hold the title coach. I'm really excited and honored to be coaching young girls in this capacity. The middle school program is called Heart & Sole, and it's designed specifically to address all the issues young girls go through while incorporating the benefits of running.

I'm looking forward to the start of our program, and I can't wait to get a few girls hooked on that feeling you get from running.

Tip #3 - First Days of School

Straw challenge team building activity with my students

So. I'm teaching sixth grade this year, and I'm totally loving it!

Six graders are so adorable and little, and I'm either the same height, if not a little bit taller than most of them.  I've been asking myself all week why I hadn't done this sooner! They're so easy to talk to, they buy into everything like school incentives and dress code which is mandatory uniforms this year (yes!), and they are so eager to please....

This is What Community Looks Like

This morning a ton of teachers, from my school, climbed aboard some bright yellow school buses and we took a field trip ya'll. We visited the neighborhoods that our students live in.

Our community.

We wanted to get the word out...about our upcoming "meet your teacher" day this Thursday. We wanted to make a presence in the community, and we wanted to meet parents and most importantly, our kids.

And it was hot ya'll! But we put our brightest smiles on and our best attitudes, and we took to the streets....in Summerour style!

That's community!

We ARE Summerour.

Happy Tuesday!

Tip #2 from a So-Called Veteran Teacher

There is a lot to be done before students return to school, one week from today, which brings me to tip number 2, from a "so-called veteran teacher..."

Grown Up Teeth and All

I've been wondering when this day would come. It seems all of Buddy Roller's friends and classmates were already losing theirs, but his were taking their time...

And then just this morning, it happened! Two of his upper front teeth are definitely shaking.

Sigh...

I can't decide how I feel about this. On one hand it's another exciting milestone. On the other...I'm wistful about him getting older, growing more independent, and needing me less...and less.

Double sigh...

He's really growing up. Too fast if you ask me.

I guess I better enjoy this sweet smile. Who knows what will happen when those two very big central incisors push their way through. I've seen his x-rays and those suckers are ginormous!!!

I'll keep you posted...