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A Whole Lot of Quiet

Posted on March 10, 2011 by auburnchick

Last night marked four days of my endeavor to give up TV during Lent.

I’ve gotta tell you that fasting from a non-food item is just as difficult as giving up something like sugar or junk food.

I never realized how quiet the house is when the TV is turned off.

My daily routine used to encompass working until 3:30, watching DOOL for 45 minutes, and then hunkering down to work on certification assignments WHILE listening to the TV in the background.

This week, I have been going home, visiting with Chicky (home for Spring Break), and then hunkering down to work on lesson plans and my assignments.

There.

Is.

No.

TV.

There.

Are.

No.

Extra.

Sounds.

A couple of days ago, it was so silent that the only thing I heard was the sound of my fingers tapping away at my keyboard and the deep laugh of my sweet Rooster as he played Xbox Live in another room.

That.

Was.

All.

I have been playing music though.  I love listening to Chris Tomlin Radio on Last.fm.

Still, though, the music is not a replacement for the TV.

What has been even stranger than the lack of noise is the depressed feeling I have.

I feel like the house is a little darker without the bright images being emitted from the television.

Time seems to crawl by.  Let’s face it folks.  We live our lives in segments – in blocks predetermined by the length of our activities.  In my case, my evenings were divided into one or two-hour chunks.

Last night, after working all afternoon on assignments, I glanced at the clock, expecting the time to read 8pm.

It was 6:00.

I kid you not.

I’ve been working at my dining room table lately; however, I moved to the couch, which is in front of the TV, later in the evening.

It was a strange feeling.  I looked at my DVR, and I could see that it was recording something (preset, of course)…

I felt like I was being taunted.

The Mr. walked through, and I made a comment about how tired I was.

He told me I should go to bed early.  He also suggested that my body probably thought it was time for bed because usually, when I turn off the TV, my body takes it as a signal that it’s bedtime.

Good observation.

Probably true as well.

People are conditioned to respond to certain stimuli.  Pavlov proved it with his salivating dog experiment.

I think that the television serves as a stimulant to my body.  It keeps me awake.   I guess that’s why child “experts” suggest that children do not watch television a certain length of time before going to bed.

Who knew that the experts might actually know something.  😉

What I am already coming to realize is that television is almost like a drug.  Certain shows lead us to have certain feelings.  We watch advertisements for things we don’t need and think, all of a sudden, that we need those things.

And so we depend on the TV to help us be who we are, so to speak.

God does not want that of us. 

Nothing should define who we are except for HIM.

It’s no wonder that we wander around lost and confused.

We have too many voices playing in the background of our lives when, in reality, we need to be listening to only ONE voice…the voice that won’t make promises He can’t keep (unlike infomercials for anti-wrinkle cream).

I am praying that the quiet time that I will be having over the course of Lent will help me train myself to purposefully tune out the noises around me so that I can hear God’s voice in a very clear, audible way.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

Mardi Gras Hodgepodge!

Posted on March 9, 2011 by auburnchick

Well, I guess it’s that time of the year.  I really don’t keep up with Mardi Gras and stuff like that, so if Joyce says it’s party time, I’ll just go with it!

Either way, it gives us a fun way to title the weekly Hodgepodge post, eh?

Strap on your beads or whatever you put on to celebrate this holiday.  I’ll just kick back in my blue jeans.

1. The season of Lent begins on March 9th this year…do you participate and if so, in what way?

I became a Christian in May 1988.  Quite honestly, I’ve only participated in a Lent fast.  That was three years ago, and I gave up all drinks except for water.

This year will be different.  I will be fasting from television.  I actually blogged about this yesterday.  I encourage you to take a peek at what I wrote.  It came from the deep recesses of my heart.

I am a bit nervous about God telling me to give up one of the main ways that I relax.  However, I know that He has my best interest at heart, and I know that He desires a closer relationship with me.  The TV is standing in the way.

My church created a Lent Reader for the season.  This is no small reader, let me tell you.  It is big and thick, and it has a plethora of lessons (probably 40, if there’s one for each day of Lent).  I will be studying my Bible and the reader – and NOT watching TV.

2. Traditionally pancakes are eaten on the day known as Shrove Tuesday which is the last day before Lent (March 8th this year). So….butter and syrup? Blueberry? Chocolate chip? ewww, no thanks!! What’s your pleasure when it comes to eating pancakes?

When it comes to eating pancakes, I really like them to be prepared with chocolate chips in the batter served up with syrup on the top.  Butter does nothing for me.

3. Spring is coming. (It is coming, right?) What’s your favorite springtime flower and do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Two questions I know, but they’re lightweights.

First of all, I could not tell you what constitutes a springtime flower versus some other seasonal flower.  A gardener I am not (that would be my mom).  So, I’ll just tell you what my favorite flower is.

I love, love, love sunflowers.  I have grown them nearly every year for the last ten or twelve years…

Rooster took the next picture from inside the house…

Sorry.  I just couldn’t resist my photographic aria to sunflowers.

4. “Our opinion of people depends less upon what we see in them than upon what they make us see in ourselves.” Author unknown. Agree or Disagree? Why?

Deep.  I’m doing way too much critical thinking in my classes to delve too deeply with this one!!  Ok.  Let’s see.  I would say that I disagree.  My opinion of people is totally dependent on what I see in them.  I have learned not to look at outer appearances and make snap judgments.  Trust me.  As a teacher, this can get you into trouble.  I wait to see what’s inside.

With that said, we cannot help but examine ourselves in the light of our experiences with others.  Our experiences with people shape who we are and change us.  They cause us to look within and see how we can improve ourselves.  This is human nature.  But, I do not think that my opinion of others is affected by what I see in myself as a result of knowing them.

5. Since it’s “March” and also the season of Mardi Gras….have you ever been in a parade? What’s the best parade you’ve seen?

I walked in two parades this year with the band.  It was fun to watch the kids play their instruments and watch the crowds react.  However, I’ve never been in a parade of my own volition.  Honestly, I just don’t get the allure of parades.  Call me a kill joy.  Whatever.   Being different is what makes the world go round.  😉

6. You would jump up and down and shout for joy right now if someone told you___________?

Oh boy.  I could fill in that blank with a lot of things!!  I would have to say that I would jump up and down if someone told me that I had completed my education certification classes.  I am so ready to take my brain on vacation.

7. How clean is your car on the outside? Inside? Is there junk in your trunk?

My car is not very clean on the outside right now because it is covered with pollen.  I am not about to complain, though, because I have warm weather and you probably don’t (neener neener).  The inside is fairly clean.  I do not like clutter and try my best to keep things straightened up.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My school has three more days until Spring Break.  I gave my final exams early — a very smart decision (and one that I plan to repeat next term).  Spring Break will not involve relaxing, though.  I have a lot of lesson plans to work on, and I also have to get a jump start on the assignments for my certification classes.  I just started my second round of classes, and they are going to be doozies.  I will have to do my field experiences (similar to student teaching) during the next eight weeks, and there are mounds of assignments that have to be done before, during, and after.  Life is going to suck.

The flip side is that God will get me through.  I know this.  Sometimes it is the only thing that gives me hope when I’m up at 1am working on assignments.

Speaking of hope…

I hope all of you have a wonderful week!  Let’s get this Lent season kicked off right by focusing our thoughts on our need for the Savior who came down to rescue us from the punishment we deserve – spending eternity separated from God.

Isn’t God merciful?!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , | 16 Comments »

Turning Off the TV

Posted on March 8, 2011 by auburnchick

On Sunday, one of my church’s pastors preached a very inspiring, thought-provoking sermon.

The sermon was about Ash Wednesday, Lent, and what these words mean to Christians.

Tom is my church’s newest pastor.

He is young, full of energy, and possesses a zeal for the Lord.

His sermons are fiery.

He reminds me of the pastor who headed up the small, country church I grew up in.

Tom is also very funny, and he had the congregation laughing at his opening statements.

Things got very serious, though, as he began delving into the meat of his sermon.

Ash Wednesday.

Lent.

These are terms that I have grown up with.

On Sunday, Tom made me think of them in a new way.  I hope he won’t mind if I share snippets of his sermon here…all credit to him and God.

First – Ash Wednesday.  What is it, and why do people walk around with “mud all over their faces,” as Tom said?

The dust, which is applied to the forehead in the shape of a cross, is a reminder that people were formed from dust, and we will return to dust one day.

Heavy.

Mortality.

Never a fun topic.

We will die because we are a race of sinners.  Death entered this world because of sin.  We are, thus, called to die.

The fact that the dust that is placed on Christians’ foreheads on Ash Wednesday is put there in the shape of a cross is important.  Why?  This speaks to the hope that Christians have because Jesus died on the cross.

It is precisely because Jesus died and rose again that Christians can find joy in the midst of the sadness that surrounds Lent.  In fact, “Bright Sadness” is the theme for the Lent reader that my church just created (logo created by a member of the church, who, I hope, won’t mind if I post)…

People who aren’t Christians don’t understand how we could find joy in death.

First of all, there is joy in knowing that God didn’t just hand down a bunch of mandates and remove himself from our lives.  God, who knew no limits, took on the limits of a mortal life.  God, who knew only life and love, experienced death and hate.  He took on the shame that we should one day feel at judgment, when we stand before God.

You know…it’s never fun to stand in front of someone and admit that you did something wrong.  As sinners, we should be the ones doing that before God.

Jesus took our place.

There is joy in that.

It is important to remember, though, that there can be no glory without suffering.

Jesus suffered.

He suffered mightily on His journey.

In Tom’s words, “The road to the cross is a prerequisite to the resurrection.”

I know a little something about prerequisites.  I just finished two classes that were prerequisites for the two classes I am currently enrolled in.

I couldn’t get to Point B without traveling through Point A.

When Jesus told us to “take up our cross and follow Him,” He meant that we would have to travel down the same road that He did.

And thus we get to Lent.

Lent is the 40-day journey.

Lent has, traditionally, been a time of giving up something sacrificially and drawing ever closer to God.

Tom made the point that people allow things to determine who they are.

What a lie the world has fed to us.

We are not defined by the things in the world.

We are defined by our relationship with God.

Giving up things that we consider important to us has the potential to bring us closer to the Lord.

And so Tom challenged us.

The first thing that happened was that the ushers passed out pads of sticky notes.

We held on to our stickies as the sermon was presented.

I already knew what we were going to be asked to do.

A word stuck in my head immediately.

As Tom spoke, my heart started beating faster, and I got tears in my eyes as I realized that this word was something that I’ve used to help define myself.

Tom eventually asked us two questions:
1. What is God telling you to fast from during Lent?
2. What is God calling you to replace it with?

You see, Lent is not supposed to be a legalistic ritual.

Every religion can turn into legalism.

Lent is about drawing closer to the Lord, so whatever you give up should be done with the intention of replacing it with something that honors God.

I continued to mull over the word that was in my head.

Then, Tom asked us to write down something that we would give up, along with the thing we would replace it with.

I wrote.

I had tears in my eyes.

I was embarrassed.

I was also ashamed.

We then had communion.

As we walked to the front, we placed our sticky notes on the altar…

I am so glad someone took a picture after the sermon.

As I sat down after taking communion and watched others go to the front, my heart was moved.

I watched elementary age children put stickies on the altar.

Lessons learned in youth…

A nation of believers in the making.

I honestly cannot remember a previous Sunday when the congregation, as a whole, had been immediately affected in that way.

What had started off as a funny morning had grown quite serious.

Salvation is like that.

It’s not something you wait around for.

It’s also not something you take for granted.

Salvation is a GIFT that you CANNOT earn with good works and crossed fingers.

There is such joy when you understand this very basic precept.

And so, during Lent, I will be giving up something that has grown to mean a lot to me…

I’ve been justifying my extended viewing of it by saying that my shows help me to relax after all of the stress I’ve been under each day.

Phooey.

What a load of baloney I’ve been feeding myself.

But I will admit that I am not overly thrilled.

Shows like Survivor, Dancing With the Stars, Amazing Race, Criminal Minds, and American Idol have become staples in my living room.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the finale of The Bachelor.

Guys, I waste countless hours each week in front of the TV.

How many hours do I spend studying my Bible and praying?

Not a whole lot.

And so I am committing myself to studying God’s Word and praying for at least an hour each day.

I could easily use the excuse that my schoolwork is too heavy of a load to do this, but I know that I’m only fooling myself.

Every afternoon when I get home from school, I spend/waste 45 minutes watching the Days of Our Lives episode I’ve recorded that day.

Sheesh.

Do you want to know what’s also ironic?

On Saturday, after getting home from my certification classes, I thought to myself, “I hope I don’t get distracted by all of my shows.  There are so many starting up right now, so my TV schedule is going to be heavy.”

Thanks, Lord.

I owe you one.

Actually, I owe Him my life.

He gave His instead.

Giving up TV for forty days is chump change considering that I will be spending eternity with Him.

Will you consider giving something up?

What if you’re not a Christian?

Will you consider spending forty days searching and praying for God to reveal Himself to you?

I will pray that you do.  I will pray that you come to a saving knowledge of Jesus’s atoning work on the cross so that you, too, may experience the “bright sadness” of Lent.

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , , | 3 Comments »

16 Weeks To Go

Posted on March 7, 2011 by auburnchick

Well, I’m at the 16-week mark on my journey toward permanent teacher certification.

Last week, I had some not so much fun when I had to pay my tuition…

I had to get a student loan to finance my classes, but I messed up a bit because I did not know that student loans are only dispersed once each semester.  Because I am attending mini-terms (two sessions per semester), part of the tuition for my second term had to come out of my pocket.  I will get the money back at the end when I receive the difference from my last term’s fees and the dispersed amount, but still, $200 (the difference this term) is no small chunk of change.

Aside from paying out huge amounts of money that will take me forever to repay, life was good last week.

I did not have any assignments to finish, except for the creation of three CDs (one per class) of my work.  I dropped those off on Monday night when I took Rooster to his class at the college.

I spent the bulk of the week working on lesson plans.  I also knit and, quite honestly, vegged out on my couch.

On Friday night, I made the mistake of looking at my online school’s web site.

My new classes had been opened up.

I just had to punish myself by looking at the assignment schedules.

Whoosh…

My happy bubble burst.

Reality set in.

A new round of classes was about to begin.

And begin, it did, when I attended my Saturday classes.

You might remember that my classes are conducted in a hybrid fashion.  Most of the work is done online; however, attendance is required one Saturday per month, for a total of two in-class sessions per term, per class.

I must admit, though, that as I got ready for class at o’dark thirty on Saturday, I looked forward to seeing my classmates.

I feel as if we are part of a Special Forces unit in the military (I’ve previously said that we feel like a family, but “family” is too mild of a word).

We’re doing battle together…the war being fought is us versus the assignments.

When I walked into class at 7:30, I smiled at my classmates.  I was genuinely happy to see them.

The names and faces are starting to stick.

We have been reading and responding to each others’ postings for two months.  Many of these postings are extremely personal because reflections are part of the curriculum.

There is a core group of us…thirty or so people who started the program in January.  We’re all on the “fast track,” meaning we’re taking three courses each term.  On Saturdays, we’re like animals being herded from one pen to another as we move from classroom to classroom.

I cannot speak to the emotions that others are experiencing through this process.

My emotions have run the gamut from overwhelming anxiousness to pure joy.

And yet, yesterday morning, as I got ready for church, I could not help but reflect on how inspired I felt after Saturday’s class.

This term, I am taking the following classes:

  • Teaching and Technology
  • The Teaching Profession – Field Experience
  • Diversity in the Classroom – Field Experience

My technology teacher is AMAZING!  She works at my school district’s office and is in charge of instructional technology (or something like that) for the county.  I’ve already read the first chapter of the textbook, taken one quiz, and completed one assignment, and I can honestly say that I am pumped up!  The school that I teach at is extremely small; it is sorely in need of technology.  I can see so much potential in what the kids could (and should) be learning.  This class is going to breathe life into my lesson plans as I search for ways to incorporate technology into my students’ academic lives.

My other two classes are my field experience classes.  This is the term when I will be working with a mentor teacher.  I will be spending three days outside of my own classroom soaking up the lessons that will come from observing and teaching my mentor’s classes.  I am very excited and very nervous.

One thing though…I am not feeling as overwhelmed as I did that very first Saturday in January.

God is so good.

He has shown me in very tangible ways that He is with me every step of the way.

The way certainly has not been easy, and there were a few days in the beginning when I wanted to throw in the towel.

I am so incredibly glad that I did not.

I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that God will get me through every single day and every single assignment.

And so I continue to press on.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

Spring Breaking With Chicky!

Posted on March 6, 2011 by auburnchick

Chicky arrived home for Spring Break!!!

She’s already taken over the bathroom…

I’ll admit that seeing her suitcase in her bedroom makes me a teensy bit sad…

The suitcase reminds me that she’ll eventually have to go back.

For now, I will enjoy her while I can and rejoice in the fact that I will only have to endure one more separation before she comes home for the summer.

Filed under: children | Tagged: | 4 Comments »

Week 28 of Teaching

Posted on March 5, 2011 by auburnchick

Ahhh…Week 28…

After last week, I did not know what to expect.

I had spent the weekend working on lesson plans, and my work paid off.

I walked into class on Monday armed with plans and rubrics.

Oh, and I was wearing new clothes…

Teacher + New Clothes = Sassy Attitude

My juniors and seniors saw this on the board…

We were going to cover a quick unit on the Cavalier Poets.  Students would be writing essays at the end of the unit.

My sixth graders were also in for a surprise…

They were going to write expository essays!  Whoop Whoop!

Thud.

Yeah.  That was how they reacted.

They seemed overwhelmed when I handed them the instructions and rubrics, but I quickly adopted my cheerleader attitude and got them pumped up for the assignment, assuring them that I would be with them every step of the way.

Because they were having a hard time understanding the instructions, I compared, in a flash of brilliance, the essay to a courtroom trial.  I told my students that there were like lawyers, and their essays were their defendants.  I would be the judge.  Their responsibilities were to present their cases, using “evidence” from the poems they would be selecting (per the instructions I provided) to make them have stronger cases.

Let’s all pause a moment while I pat myself on the back.

Just kidding.

This was totally a God-moment.

It was the perfect analogy for my sweet little sixth graders.  They understood what I was asking them to do.

We worked on these essays all week in class so I could provide much needed support and feedback.

Next up were my ninth and tenth graders…

They had been given the task of writing compare/contrast essays, and their first rough drafts were due on Monday.

I’m telling you…the new shoes gave me energy!  My students fed off of that energy, using it to motivate them to peer review their classmates’ papers much more closely than in times past.

We talked about fragments.  We talked about topic sentences.  We talked a little about everything.

I explained that peer reviewing and editing would be an ongoing task all week.

Monday ended well.

When Tuesday arrived, I wasn’t feeling all that great thanks to the head cold I managed to pick up.  At least I had a new pair of shoes to lift my spirits…

Yeah.

I went back and bought the shoes.

Bad AuburnChick.

Oh, but they looked so adorable with my new blue jeans and the pink shirt that my friend, Barbara, had given me.  The three inch heels made feel like an Amazon woman too!  I sure wish my legs would grow three inches!!

Anyhoo…back to the purpose of this post…

My 11th and 12th graders shared the Carpe Diem poems they had written for homework.  In the poems, they “advised” incoming freshmen of ways they could “seize the day.”  The poems were quite funny and, in the end, reflective.  Then, we proceeded with our lesson for the day…Homer and his Carpe Diem poem…

My seniors and I got a little sidetracked when one of my students asked me about being a Christian and going to heaven.  Actually, this question was related to the theme of Carpe Diem – a theme in which Cavalier poets ignored or even denied the existence of an afterlife.  In their minds, living for today was the only thing people should concern themselves with.

My students and I agreed that people should have balance in their lives…seizing opportunities today with our eyes on the future.

This is one thing I really love about teaching.  Teaching should not be about rote learning but about invigorating and challenging young minds to think outside of the box.  Doing so leads to true understanding and a desire to learn more.

My sixth graders continued working on their big writing assignment.  We spent the class period working on their essays’ theses and webs, which would teach them how to organize their ideas…

I am amazed at how much slower I have to take things with my youngest class.  Earlier this school year, a friend of mine, who also happens to be a teacher (not Barbara) suggested that I focus on teaching one skill each day in regard to my sixth graders.

I have found this to be sage advice.  Sixth graders cannot handle too many concepts at one time.  I think it is far better to hone in on one, help them develop this skill thoroughly, and then move on to another skill.

My ninth and tenth graders peer reviewed their compare/contrast essays.  I had a chance to work one-on-one with a few of my students.

I believe that writing is an aspect of English education that gets overlooked in high schools.  This is such a shame.  I think that writing goes hand-in-hand with reading comprehension.  What good does it do a child to understand a story but not be able to put their thoughts about the story on paper in a coherent manner?

I am praying that some of the things I teach my students will stick in their minds.

So…Wednesday…what did we do on Wednesday?

Hmmm…

My juniors and seniors continued their readings about carpe diem.

My 6th graders saw this when they walked in…

Because I had made this essay their final exam, they had a little bit of incentive to work extra-hard.  I was able to spend time with each student while the other students worked on the bodies of their essays.  A really neat thing that happened is that students began helping one another…reading each others’ work and offering suggestions…all without my asking them.  This is writing at its best — collaborative effort.

My 9th graders got an impromptu, yet visual, lesson on essay organization.  Merely describing how an essay should be organized is not enough for some students.  They need to see it.  So, I wrote this for them…

I saw light bulbs go on, and I realized that they were getting closer to understanding what I expected.

My tenth graders were awesome, as always, and copied down the outline.  Their rough drafts were looking really good, but we still managed to tweak them further.

On Thursday, my juniors and seniors were treated to a special reading…

This was a writer they could identify with.  They were able to shed light on the word “rubai,” and even tried to help me pronounce it correctly.  Arabic and Mrs. AuburnChick do not get along well, I’m afraid.  I cannot make the guttural “r” sound that the language demands and, hence, put my Redneck spin on certain names and words.

Regardless, we discussed the poem above.  I had learned, through my research, that this is one of the most famous poems in the world and has been translated into many different languages.  One of my students expressed interest in reading the original version.

This is teaching at its best…sparking curiosity that inspires seeking knowledge outside of the classroom.  I love it!

During my 6th grade class, I went into “editor” mode, working with them to edit their body paragraphs and begin work on their conclusions.

When the bell rang, one of my students said, “Mrs. AuburnChick, this isn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be.”

Ahhhh…I had told my class that I would walk them through every step of the process.  I think my students are finally learning to trust me.

My ninth and tenth graders had one more day of peer editing.  I enjoyed watching my ninth graders work.  We had been turning the desks into one large circle, so they were able to give each other feedback easier.  I actually smiled when I heard students arguing about the virtues of Romeo and Juliet.  This is not a class that regularly debates literary issues, let me tell you.

They’ve also been throwing around the word, “effeminate.”  It was one that really stood out during one of our lessons, and I don’t think they will ever forget it.

Before I knew it, Friday had arrived.

I had a HUGE surprise for my classes…

I had received “feedback” from a few of my students.  They were concerned about the rubric that I had given them for their upcoming essay.  Grammar will consist of 1/5 of the final grade.  We have not done a lot of formal grammar lessons simply because I have found it extremely difficult to balance all of the English components in the short class times that we have.  I have, however, been providing extensive formative feedback on their rough drafts throughout the year.

So, they spoke, and I listened…

The afternoon before, I had stayed late after school to write some of the most common issues I have found in my students’ writing.

We went over each of these items very carefully, and I answered all of their questions, adding examples to the board.  By the end of the day, my board looked like this…

I did not make my 6th graders endure the lesson.  It would have been too overwhelming for them.  Rather, I gave them feedback on the conclusions they had written for homework.  One of my students stayed in my room during part of his lunch so he could get some extra help.  Another of my students went running into my classroom at the end of the day to get last-minute feedback on his last sentence.

It was a crazy week.  I don’t know if I want to do essays for final exams again, although I will say that they are great assessments to use at the end of big units.  I also really enjoy the writers workshops that we participate in whenever large essays are due.

It is hard to believe that we have two more instructional days left before finals.  Term 3 is almost over.  We’re all beyond ready.

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: | 3 Comments »

Beat of Life

Posted on March 4, 2011 by auburnchick

Yesterday, Rooster attended a pre-tryout percussion clinic.  It was held after school with the purpose of preparing those who are going to be trying out for the percussion section of the marching band.

Rooster had informed me that he probably would not be finished until 7:30pm.

I left home around 6:30 and headed to Panera to pick up dinner.  I wanted to make it home before American Idol started.

As I meandered my way back to my house, I took a back road that led me past Rooster’s school.

Because the weather has been absolutely glorious here, I had my windows down.

As I passed by the school, I heard drumming, so I turned my head to see what was going on.

Standing beside the school were several bass players, drums hung over their shoulders, practicing their little hearts out.

Rooster was not among them.  He is trying out for snares this year, so he was practicing somewhere else on campus.

Still, I was touched by the dedication of the students I heard playing.

Who really wants to be at school from 7am until 8pm when they could be home watching TV or playing Xbox?

When Rooster finally came home at 8:15, he was dead tired.

His feet and legs hurt.

His hands were sporting three or four blisters as well.

The band will be under new leadership next year, but the changes that have already been put into place have been positive ones.  He has a renewed love and enthusiasm for this school activity, and I could not be happier.

As I listened to him tell me about his long afternoon, I was reminded of the poem he submitted for a poetry contest last year.

He wrote it for extra credit for his English class (I, being the mean mom that I am, made him do the extra credit to earn some much needed points).  His poem was one of several selected to be published in a booklet that the contest’s sponsor produced.

The poem is below…

Beat of Life

With every measure of  music I play
The beat of life comes rocking my way
When I hit my drum with all my heart
I also have to remember my part
If I don’t keep up with the rhythm
Then I may have to put up with the schism
If I make sure to play it right
My line will make sure to keep it tight
The better and better that my chops get
The more and more that my spot is set
So if you think I can’t survive
The beat of life allows me to stay alive

Rooster has always marched to the beat of his own drum.

The song he plays is music to my ears.

Filed under: children | Tagged: , , | 3 Comments »

Hacked!

Posted on March 3, 2011 by auburnchick

Some things are too good to be true.

Take, for instance, this message that Chicky posted on my Facebook wall:

Dear Momma,

I just wanted to stop by and say that I love you so so so so much and I can not wait to see you when I get home.  I want you to give me a HUGE HUG and a HUGE KISS!!!!  🙂  I have missed everyone so so much, I think that when I get back we all should go out to eat or do something big as a family.  I can not wait to see you Momma 🙂  I LOVE YOU…………………Chicky

Two things were wrong with this message:

  1. The message said “Momma.”  Chicky calls me Mama.  It’s a Southern thing, and it’s always spelled M-a-m-a.
  2. Chicky would NEVER, under any circumstance, ask me to hug and kiss her.  She tolerates my hugs and might, occasionally, “hug” me by patting me on the back.

Oh, and one other big clue that something was amiss?

When I got on Facebook on my phone (the original message had come through via email), the message was not there.

Yes.

Chicky’s Facebook had been hacked…

By a certain college guy.

Mmmmm hmmmmm.

I texted her and said, “Chicky, I think you were hacked.”

Yep.

She confirmed it.

I responded by saying, “Figured.”

And then I had a brilliant idea.

I posted the following on her Facebook wall:

Dear Chicky,

I just wanted to stop by and say that I love so so so so much and I cannot wait to see you when you get home.  I want you to give me a HUGE HUG and a HUGE KISS!!!!  🙂  I have missed you so so much.  I think that when you get home, we all should go out to eat or do something big as a family.  I cannot wait to see you Chicky  🙂  I LOVE YOU…………………..Mama

P.S.  This really is a message from Mama (i.e. my FB was not hacked).

LOVE YOU!

She’s a lucky girl, eh?

Filed under: children | Tagged: | 4 Comments »

Wednesday Hodgepodge Marches In

Posted on March 2, 2011 by auburnchick

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for the Hodgepodge!  Whoop Whoop!

C’mon and join the fun!  Post your own answers and link back up on Joyce’s blog.  Visit others to see how they answered.  Make new friends!

1. March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s birthday so I’m wondering…do you like green eggs and ham? Okay-how about this instead…how do you like your eggs? Or don’t you?

My preferred way of eating eggs is over-easy.  I love dunking my toast in the liquid yolk.  Yum!!

2. Is March coming in like a lion or something less ferocious where you live?

I am not exactly sure what this quote means!!  Can you believe it?  I’ll assume that coming in like a lion refers to violent weather, which certainly is not the case for the Florida Panhandle.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, with highs in the low 70’s.  I spent a couple of hours outside last Saturday and actually had a tan line the next day!  I wish it would stay like this all year around!

3. Do you work better or worse under pressure?

I am the type of person who works best under pressure.  Pressure helps me stay focused.  Pressure is something I’m used to right now with the accelerated teacher certification program that I am enrolled in.  Pressure is also something I felt very keenly last February when Chicky’s high school soccer team made it to the Final 4.  We raised nearly $10,000 in four days, which was more than enough money to finance the trip (chartered bus, hotel rooms, coaches expenses, and memorabilia for the girls).

4. March Madness-are you a fan? It’s college basketball in case you’re wondering. And if you’re outside the USA tell us-is there any sort of ‘madness’ taking place during March in your part of the world?

I am not a fan of basketball.  I would gladly exchange soccer for basketball any day.  Now, that’s a thought!!

5. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?

Hmmm…I think my answer would have to be similar to #3’s.  I will add that I tend to do a bit better in the “thinking department” late at night when the house is quiet.  When I began taking my certification classes, I told myself that I would go to bed at a decent time each night, but I have not done that.  I quickly discovered that I produce some of my best work in the wee hours of the morning.

6. What item of clothing from your wardrobe do you wear most often?

I love my blue jeans, which is why I am thrilled that the Mr. bought me a new pair last week during our shopping excursion.  The new pair fits me very well, so I will probably wear them out!

7. Do you use sarcasm?

Never.

😉

8. Insert your own random thought here.

As some of you know, I teach at a school that is geared for Muslim students.  As a Christian, I have had some interesting discussions.  One such discussion occurred yesterday when one of my students asked me if Christians are allowed to say that they are going to heaven.

I wanted to jump on my desk as I responded with a hearty “YES!!!!”

You see, one of the Islamic teachers at the school had already explained to me that Muslims do not know if they are going to heaven until they actually get there.

My student’s question led to more discussion about salvation.  I explained that people cannot earn their way to heaven, and that salvation can never be taken away from a person just because of what a person does.  I also explained that only God can know our hearts and if we truly have accepted His Son as our Savior.

Oh my gosh, y’all, but the questions kept coming, and I kept answering.

I have learned an important lesson in my first year of teaching.

I do not have to leave America to be a missionary.

I have a mission field ten minutes from my house.

What about you?

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 20 Comments »

Sniffles

Posted on March 1, 2011 by auburnchick

Ugh.  I hate head colds.

They make you feel like your head is in the clouds, and this is not a good thing when you have to work.

I was hoping that my onset of the sniffles was only due to the pollen in the air.

NOT.

After three days of a dripping nose (I even dripped on one of my textbooks during a class yesterday) and pressure in my head, I have admitted that I am not suffering from allergies.

I guess I should be thankful.  I will probably only have to suffer another few days before I get better.  Allergy sufferers have to endure the sneezies for a lot longer.

And so I will continue to walk around with kleenex stuck in my nose until this little virus finishes running its course.

I paint a pretty visual, eh?

This is not me but a random picture I got off of Google Images.

 

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: | 5 Comments »

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