Are You Smarter Than a 6th Grader?

Well, I apologize friends, for not posting in fo'ever.

I have been working...full time... no more "SAHM".

To make a very long story super short, I decided to substitute teach part-time.

I taught for 11 years before staying home to raise my family.

The job I left was at this very school I'm substituting at , 13 years ago.

However, I did go back to substitute teach about 2 years ago, right when my father became ill. After he passed, I didn't go back, until now.

During the summer, I spoke with the secretary of this school to see if I could meet the new principal.

We met and I let her know that I would be available to start subbing,

if she needed me.

I got a call a few weeks later for a 6-week substitute position.

One of the teachers was having a baby.

Without hesitation, I said, "Yes!".

Although I knew this was a 6th grade class,

I hadn't ever actually taught 6th grade.

Although they told me it would be a 6 week stay,

I had no idea the 6 weeks would turn into 10 weeks.

Although I was excited to be working FULL time again,

I hadn't really worked FULL time in like, 13 years. (yikes)

Although I knew I would have to adjust to going to the gym, going to work, home,

homework w/the kids, their activities, dinner & sleep,

I hadn't expected to really have to make an adjustment.

Ha ha!

I was excited!

Ignorance is bliss.

I walked into the classroom the first day of my assignment, and there were 34 students.

WOW...

34 students, 10 were taller than me, I would guess 4 weighed more than me,

and I felt somewhat unprepared.

Oh well, too late to back out now!

Language Arts:

Focus study on people who took a stand in the past.

Mahatma Ghandi

Martin Luther King

Cesar Chavez

I'm doing ok...so far, you know, I've at least heard of these guys.

Math:

(I wasn't really great in Math, just ok)

Focus study on geometry, specifically, the area, diameter, radius of a circle.

I remember the radius and diameter.

How do you find the area of a circle?

?

?

?

I ask, "What is the answer to #5?

Raise your hand if you know it",

(because right now, I DON"T!)

Sergio raises his hand.

"Sergio, what is the answer?"

"Oh, it is 45 cm"

I respond,

"Wow, Sergio, great job! HOW DID YOU FIND THAT ANSWER?"

(because I don't remember.....hello...35 years ago?)

He explains,

"Well, you multiply Pi times the diameter".

Wow, I am apparently NOT smarter than a 6th Grader!

How about you?

There are times in our lives when we just need to

surrender to the lessons

that are given to us.

Although I am there to teach, it is obvious that I am also the student.

I am a life-long learner.

I know that as I age, God continues to present opportunities for me to

learn,

trust,

love,

have faith,

and

surrender.

"He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers."

Proverbs 19:8

"An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge."

Proverbs 18:15

"For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;"

Proverbs 2:10

What lessons are you learning?

Where are you growing?

Summer....

Summer has been SO AWESOME!

This summer we have:

traveled on an airplane, taxi, party bus, boat, pulled on a tube in the bay, driven by car & truck, motorcycle, walked, rode bikes, scooters, boogie boards, and waves.

We've been through the air, on land and in the sea.

We have one more trip left.

But, I'm TIRED!

What about you?

How are you holding up this summer?

Do you enjoy NOT having regular routine

or not?

I LOVE SUMMER,

however,

I LOVE the fact that when summer ends,

school begins.

A schedule and a routine are good things.

Getting up and having breakfast,

a good thing.

Going to school for the 3 R's,

a good thing.

Homework,

a good thing.

Going to sleep at "bedtime",

a good thing,

actually,

a GREAT thing!

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Tell me how you are feeling about Summer

coming to an end...

Is it about time to be done or

do you want some more?

What time is it for YOU?

My Deepest Fear

"My deepest fear is not that I am inadequate.

My deepest fear is that I am POWERFUL beyond measure.

It is my LIGHT,

not my darkness that most frightens me.

I ask myself, Who am I to be

Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, Fabulous?

Actually, who am I NOT TO BE?

I am a CHILD OF GOD.

Me playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around Me.

I am meant to SHINE, as children do.

I was born to make manifest the GLORY OF GOD that is within ME.

It's not just in ME, it's in EVERYONE.

And as I let my own light SHINE,

I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As I am liberated from my own fear,

My presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson

I heard this quote many years ago, and just heard it again, recently.

What an amazing reminder!

I AM A CHILD OF GOD and HE is within ME!

HE is within YOU!

How can we allow HIS LIGHT to shine through us more?

"You are the LIGHT of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put in under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:13-16

Toastmasters

Toastmasters-

I got it!

This little guy is a trophy I get to keep for one WHOLE week, because I was voted

"Best Table Topics"

this morning at Toastmasters.

Let me tell you about Toastmasters.

Everyone, I mean EVERYONE should join a group.

It will help you:

Gain confidence in speaking in front of a group.

(I mean, really, isn't that enough?)

Get used to answering questions spontaneously,

that actually make sense.

Grow mentally & emotionally.

Become aware of our little speaking "issues" and have the opportunity week after week to work on them.

(our "ums, uhs, you know's")

Become part of a community that supports and encourages

each other.

Become a better leader.

***

I should have joined a group years ago, but I will be honest with you...

I was scared.

Scared of feedback, criticism, negativity.

There is none of THAT here.

Ooops, there is feedback,

positive feedback.

Feedback that I need if I truly want to get better,

which,

I do.

So, I've been going for 3 weeks barely surviving the

"Table Topics".

The Table Topics Master provides questions related to a theme for the day, that we answer,

when we are CALLED ON.

This is some scary poo-poo!

When we start, my heart is literally pounding SO HARD!

I avoid eye-contact,

I start sweating,

I pretend that I'm listening to other members as they share,

thinking to myself the whole time,

"I wonder who he will call on next?"

Well, being called on for 3 weeks in a row,

so, I figured I'd have a turn today.

I did.

I survived!

I even got a trophy!

Yeah Toastmasters!

Words to LIVE By!

Here are some words to LIVE By....

Which ones do you need to practice more?

I'm thinking about printing this out,

framing it

&

hanging it

somewhere we can ALL see!

Let's see....

what do I need to work on?

" Always be Grateful"

&

"Try new Things",

What do YOU need to work on?

Have a FABULOUS DAY!

Source: craftnstyle.blogspot.com via Janet on Pinterest

Sons of Guns?

Date Night with Luke & Sons of Guns...

I'm alone with my middle child tonight,

LUKE.

His brother is out with a friend,

his sister is out with a friend,

and it is just

LUKE and I.

Let me tell you about Luke.

He is a boy- all boy.

He loves anything military, tanks, guns, bullets, shooting, guns, bazookas, guns...did I say guns?

SO,

I asked Luke where he wanted to eat- he could choose anything.

Wahoo's?

In-N-Out?

Mc D's?

He chose Popcorn Chicken from KFC.

Yup... ALL boy!

What do you want to watch tonight?

We can watch a movie or some t.v.

"T.V"

He goes directly to the Discovery Channel.

"Sons of Guns" is on.

I've never watched this show before.

"Luke, have you ever watched this before?"

"No"

"What is this show about?"

"War guns, guns they build, guns they shoot,

bazookas, bazookas they build, bazookas they shoot."

"Oh, okay".

Now we are learning about a "19-19"?

Seriously?

400-500 rounds per MINUTE!

YIKES!

So, my date night with my son,

watching "Sons of Guns",

eating Skittles,

having some guy time,

with one of my favorite guys.