Thankful for... the season

This is my favorite time of year - the gift finding/gift giving, the baking, the good will, the energy, the story of hope and love found in the birth-story of Jesus, the music, the colors.... Christmas is a magical time of year and I am thankful for it's arrival every year.

Happy Holidays!

Thankful for... students

When I started Writing Club this year, I knew it would be different - a different structure, different kids, different plan. And the first couple days we met, only a few students came. Word was still getting out that we were meeting again. And it just didn't feel the same. I wondered if it ever would.

Now that we are a few months into things, we are on a roll. We have a good number of students regularly participating. The energy in the room when they are writing and talking is infectious. I love listening to their passion as they share their ideas and the things they are working on. They challenge me to be at my best when I am with them - I can't just "phone it in." And I don't want to - they are worth my time and best effort.

I am so thankful for my students and the role they play in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Thankful for...passions

I am passionate about many things - paper crafts, cross stitch, reading, books, kids and books, writing, my family, my son's school, advocacy for kids, education, .... The list goes on and on. 

At times those passions border on obsession or compulsion. Like anything, they can have a "dark" side. But when kept in balance, they are the things that make life interesting. They are the things that make people interesting. Find someone with a similar passion and feel the energy change in a conversation as you connect over that shared passion. Watch someone "in their element," doing their thing, watch their face light up with that passion - it is inspiring.

I am thankful that I have found things in life to be passionate about.

Thankful for... Facebook

Facebook is something of a blessing and a curse. It is a time-suck. It can be used in self-serving, arrogant ways - "Look at me!" It can be addicting.

But I am thankful for the way it helps me stay connected with people and stay informed on their lives. I am thankful for the news it directs me to - I feel like a more informed citizen thanks to Facebook. I can communicate things to family and friends so much faster than emails or phone calls (as long as those folks are as Facebook connected as I am). I can make lunch plans, coordinate charitable events, and celebrate milestones with friends.

Facebook is a tool I am thankful for.

Thankful for... generations of women

It is a season of thankfulness. Really, any time is a good time to be thankful for the blessings of life, but the holiday season lends itself to taking a few moments to be thankful.

Today I am thankful for generations of women in my life. I have the privilege of interacting with women at church and in Sunday school, at school, and during the course of the week, who are older and younger than I am, and I learn so much from them. I get to watch the older women negotiate seasons of life I haven't experienced and I can learn from them. I get to interact with younger women who have had different life experiences than I have had and I get to learn from them as well. 

These women encourage, inspire, and bless me and I am thankful for them.

Inspired by... people

Last week I met author Deborah Zarka Miller when she came to speak to my writing club students about her book A Star for Robbins Chapel. Deborah was a delight to have in class. She was engaging and approachable with my students (and they were well behaved and attentive - I was so proud). They crowded around her after club for her autograph and to show her some of their own writing.

Listening to Mrs. Miller was inspiring to me. She talked about writing over breaks from school and it made me want to dig into something over Christmas break this year. I was inspired by her perseverance in getting the story told, even though it took years of writing over weekends and school breaks. I was inspired by her passion for digging into a partial story this winter that she hasn't worked with in several years.

I have read the first chapter or two of Deborah's book and enjoyed it. Some of my students had heard the entire story, and they all reported enjoying it as well. Check out Deborah's website and A Star for Robbins Chapel.

[I am an Amazon associate. If you connect to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a small percentage of the purchase price.]

Book Fair Break

We were able to add teacher pictures to our wall decorations and then add a book that held their wish lists.

Well, that is the end of my book fair break. See you next week for some regular blogging again.

Book Fair Break

This is our book fair - ready to go!

Book Fair Break

Made these chocolate treats for our volunteers - who doesn't need a chocolate pick-me-up after chasing young children around the book fair?

Book Fair Break

Made these with my Lettering Delights comic book set. We'll use them on volunteer treats and as confetti for the book fair.

Book Fair Break

In the hallway we have this skyline. The superheros are for our class room teachers. Each will have a photo face and a "book" that holds their wishlist.

Book Fair Break

Our Art teacher, students and volunteers put together this 3-D skyline and superhero for the school entryway for book fair.