Signs of spring

It has been a long winter.  So what are some signs of spring?  For me it would be taking the plastic off of my windows down on my porch.  Then there is the return of my parents from the south, it is always good to have them back home.  I know that it is spring when I see kids arriving at school in shorts and a t-shirt when the projected high temp is above 50 degrees.  I know that I am tired of my winter clothes when I start digging out my cropped pants to wear to school.  The final sign of spring... bringing out the deck furniture so that I can sit out on my deck to enjoy the warm weather.  I also love going out to my car in the morning and hearing the birds singing.  Bring on the warm spring weather and may the flowers start blooming soon.

Catching up with a friend

Last night I had the fun of getting together with a friend.  It was so much fun to sit down and talk with her for hours.  We haven't seen each other for at least 2 years, but after exchanging a hug we sat down to talk like it was just yesterday when we last spoke.  I love how good friends can do this.  But then I always wonder why our lives get so busy in the first place.

Isn't technology suppose to free us up so that we can get together with family and friends more often?  I think that is one of the biggest lies of our generation.  Oh we will have so much more time to spend with family if we just throw a pizza in the microwave for supper.  Then we can go on facebook or twitter our friends to see what they are doing.  All of these things seem to tie us up more than free us up.

People are always amazed at me and how I can leave my cellphone at home.  I guess it is because I like being out of touch.  If I want to go for a walk or a weekend get away, that is what I do.... get away from my phone.  Maybe it is the idea that I do not feel "important" to people. 

I am not sure, but I do know that I am thankful that I can still walk away from technology.  I am glad that I can find the time to reconnect with friends. 

Facebook world

I have joined the facebook world.  I did it to keep up with the kids at church.  I like being able to see what they are talking about.  It is also a great way to be kept up to speed on things happening in the world.  My pastor has a blog and he puts update notification on his facebook status.  So I have been able to keep up with his blog.  It is so interesting to think about what is happening in Egypt and see it through the Bible. If you are interested in checking out what I am reading... Max Fraiser's blog  So I send out thanks to Max and a few other men at my church that keep an eye on the world and see it through Bible prophecy.

Winter Madness

My life has been filled with lots of trips in January.  I returned from Texas at the beginning of January and then in the middle of this month, I made the annual trip to Adventurous Christian.  It is always fun to relax with the high school students.  This year I went up with the ski team.  This means I had to be packed and ready at the church at 4 AM!!!!  I made it and had fun talking with the van driver and watching the world wake up that Friday morning.  Sunrises are beautiful, they just happen too early.

 I am busy with teaching.  I have a fifth grade class for a week.  It has been fun learning about earthquakes and volcanoes.  I am relearning how to find volume and surface area in Math so that I can teach it to the kids.  We are also talking about the Civil Rights movement for reading this week.  That has opened up some fun conversations with the students. 

So life keeps me busy.  Each day I think maybe today won't be quite so crazy, only to find that it has been filled with fun.

Merry Christmas to All

I wrote in my Christmas cards to check out my blog.  So I better write my Christmas letter here.

This year is a replay of last year.  I went did the same trips as last year, which were going to Adventurous Christian in the Boundary Waters with our high school students.  Then this summer I traveled with these kids to Wyoming for our annual trip to Lone Tree Bible Ranch.  I finished up my last classes for my Media Specialist degree, so now it is on to student teaching for the spring semester.  Yippee I am down with classes!

As I am writing this, I am sitting at the "hall" at Orange Grove RV Park on Christmas day.  We (Mom, Dad and I)  just finished our Christmas dinner and will return for the evening meal for the replay of lunch.  We arrived down here at 11:45 pm last night after two long days of driving.  We were ahead of the winter storms again this year, so only ran into rain.  It is good to be here.  The sun is shining and the wind is blowing.  I can run around with just a sweatshirt on.  I will head back to the snow on the 4th of January.

May you all find the joy of Christ's birth a reason to celebrate and be thankful for all the things He brings into our lives whether it is for the first time or an instant replay.

Christmas Mexico Style

Final Assignment

My Technology trend paper is going to focus on the overall impact technology has had on education.  The future of technology depends on teachers.  If teachers do not learn how to use the new technology, the students will never learn how to use the technology correctly.  After all that is what we have been doing in this class.  I am glad that I have been introduced to some of these new things.  I look forward to trying to incorporate these ideas into the classroom setting.  I think Media Specialists can lead the way with starting to teach students about some of the newer technology.  We may have a little more time to play with the technology than classroom teachers.  The strain that classroom teachers have to get students to pass state mandated testing takes priority for them.  If I can show teachers that some new technology might help students to pass these tests, I think teachers will jump on board.