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Darkness and Light

Posted on April 9, 2011 by auburnchick

A few months ago, Tom, one of my church’s pastors, sent me an email asking if I would be interested in writing a devotional for the Lent Reader that he was putting together for the upcoming Easter season.  He provided the Bible verse that he wanted me to focus on and let me chew on the idea for a while.

I wasn’t sure if I would have time, but I prayed about it.

In the end, I felt that God wanted me to write it.

So I did.

The Lent Reader has been organized into five weekly devotions (with the exception of the week of Easter, which has seven).

We’re currently reading Week 5.

The week that my devotion appears in.

I wanted to share what I wrote with you.

Ephesians 5:8-14 (NIV)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Darkness and light – these are two words that followers of Christ often encounter in Bible passages and in Christian music.  How often do we see and hear these words yet give them scant attention?  Have you ever stopped to consider what the words really mean, though?

The Hebrew word for darkness is “choshek,” which translates into, “separated from God’s glory because of works.”  Compare this definition to that of light, or “ohr” in Hebrew.  The Hebrew definition for light is “God connected to man.” What we see is that prior to God sending Jesus, His Son, to earth, we were separated from Him because we relied on a mentality that stressed work done by our own hands rather than the grace that is given by God.  Grace is a free gift, and there is not a magic number of works that we can perform that will put us in right standing with God.

But, is it enough, as The Message Bible says, to “climb out of our coffins” and let Christ’s light shine on us?  Does God say, “Oh, you’re good now.  You’re forgiven.  We’re best buds now.  Go lead a life of luxury.  Your work is finished.”  Most assuredly not!  We are instructed to “live as children of light” and expose the “deeds of darkness.”

We must, at this point, reflect on what it means to live as children of the light.  Just as lit candles in a sunny room do not serve the purpose they were created for – to dispel darkness, we, being infused with God’s Spirit and light, do little good if we don’t leave the confines of our comfortable lives and reach out to others living in darkness.  Verse 13 makes an incredible promise that everything that is illuminated, or enlightened to comprehend God’s word, will become a light.  Praise be to God for His abundant love and mercy that pulled us out of darkness and into the light.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

How Do You Relieve Stress?

Posted on April 8, 2011 by auburnchick

On Tuesday, I had a very interesting experience.

Yeah, yeah.  I always have interesting experiences.  That is my life, people and, hence, the reason why my blog is titled “AuburnChick’s Adventures.”

Anyhoo…

While I was straightening my hair…getting ready for work…when my cell phone rang.

When I looked at it, I saw that it was a local radio station.

“That’s weird,” I thought to myself.  Why in the world would the radio station be calling me at 7:00 in the morning?

So, I answered my phone, and heard my favorite DJ’s voice on the other end.

“Good morning, Nathalie.  Hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”

“Um, no.  I was…just…getting ready for work…” I said.

Now, at this point, you might be wondering why a local DJ has my cell phone number.

The Mr. might be wondering this as well.

heehee

You see, this is one of my favorite local stations.  The only time I really get to listen is in the mornings, on the way to school.

Of course, all good morning radio programs involve the DJs asking their audiences questions that they can call in and answer.  Mine is no different.

I, being the oh-so-smarty-pants that I am like to call in sometimes.

I called in when the question was “Have you given up anything for Lent?”

Giving up TV for 40 days tends to make people remember you (not that I called in for that reason, mind you).

Not too long after, the question was, “Have you read any good books lately?”

Well, on that particular day, I was on my way to take my General Knowledge Test.  I had a long drive ahead of me.  Unfortunately, when I called in, I caught the DJ at a bad time, when the music was about to end, so he took my number to call me back.

I told him about The Seventeen Second Miracles that my class would be studying after Spring Break, and we proceeded to have a lengthy conversation.

Hence the “why” and “how” he had my number.

So, Tuesday’s question was, “How do you relieve stress?”

What was my answer?

I pray.

The DJ sounded surprised.

“Really?” he asked.

Yep.

He asked if I feel better when I can find five minutes to myself to pray, and I said, “Actually, I cry first.  Then, I pray.”

We discussed this for a few minutes, and I explained that I used to find solace in chocolate, but since I gave up sugar in December, I have found that really, all I need is God.

That’s a lesson I have been learning since starting my education certification classes.

I felt good when I hung up the phone.

I feel like the struggles I have been going through since July…teaching in my school…attending school full-time…are all being used by God to draw me ever closer to Him.  He wants all of us to seek Him out FIRST when we need anything.

Isn’t it interesting how we turn to other things…food…friends…”self-help” books.  Those things aren’t bad, in and of themselves, but they can never replace God.

God laid out the plans for our lives before we were ever born.  The smartest thing we can do is go to Him first when we struggle within the circumstances that He has woven into the fabric of our lives.

It’s a life-long lesson that each of us much relearn time and time again.

So, how do you relieve stress?  Is your relief only temporary, or do you find complete satisfaction in your method?

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

The Case of the Missing Pants – SOLVED!

Posted on April 7, 2011 by auburnchick

So, the Mr. got home on Tuesday and somehow mentioned that day’s blog.

Yes, folks, this is how he keeps up with me these days.  I’ve had my head buried in books for so long now that we rarely have conversations of more than six words:

“What’s for dinner?”

“I don’t know.”

So, anyhow, he asked how I could lose my pants, of all things.  He figures that Molly has stolen my washcloths and that they’re buried under my bed in her dog cave.

I shrugged my shoulders and told him that I had no idea.

I mean, c’mon.  It’s a pair of pants!  They aren’t little…certainly not baby-size.

All of sudden, I had an idea…

The one place I had not checked…

Uh huh.

See, you know I’m fanatical about my electric bill.  Ever since I got laid off two years ago, money has been really, really tight.  My financial situation did not improve much when I got my teaching job because I work in a private school.  So, we try to save money where we can.

As such, we hang our clothes on the lines installed in my garage.  With the weather getting warmer, I’d given my dryer a break.

But then we had a cold snap.

Now, I remember throwing in a load of clothes.

Only, in my stress-induced, over-worked brain, I kind of forgot…

Until today…

I first noticed the pants in there.  Yay!

As I moved the pants, I found something else…

My washcloths!!!!  All six of them, in fact!!!

One other item caught my eye…

My national championship t-shirt!!!!  Super Sis and Super D had watched the BIG game (the ONLY game) in Auburn that night, and they had purchased shirts and other stuff for the entire family.

I’ve only worn it once since I received mine as a birthday present.  I had not noticed it was missing too.

Oh, the Mr. was not happy when he saw the stuff in the dryer.

You see, I’m a bit of a dryer Nazi.  It’s so bad, in fact, that he sneaks clothes into the dryer when I’m not home.

Seriously.  As soon as I walk out of the house, say for one of my class-filled Saturdays, he hurries and washes and dries a load of clothes.

So, when he saw the clothes in the dryer, he figured I’d been busted…except for the fact that I dried them during a cold snap!

Sheesh.

I make the rules around here, and I can bend them like I want.  He should know this after 20+ years of marriage.

Anyhoo…my dishtowels and dishrags are still missing.  I really do think those are packed up in Christmas boxes.  I have a feeling I will be making a trip to Walmart to buy extras.

Of course, I could just eat out every day and not worry about dishes.

heehee

I might just have to, though.  It appears as if my brain is way far gone…so far, in fact, that I’ll be lucky if I can find my way to the kitchen after this!

Filed under: This-n-That | 3 Comments »

Directionally Challenged Hodgepodge

Posted on April 6, 2011 by auburnchick

It’s time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge, when bloggers everywhere get to relax their brains and just have fun!

Oh wait.  Joyce’s questions aren’t always that easy.  Hey, at least we don’t have to come up with the topics of our blogs.  There ya go!

Drive (get it…with the direction theme) on over to Joyce’s blog and link up!

1.  National Read a Road Map Day falls on April 5th.  Would people say you have a good sense of direction?  Do you rely on a GPS when you drive someplace new?  When was the last time you used a map?

Uh oh.  This is embarrassing.  I get lost a lot.  It all started when I began driving while I was in high school.  Living in Super Podunk, USA was tough…lots of small back roads.  One night, I was driving home after a high school football game, and I got so lost that I wound up two hours away from home.  That was in the day of pay phones.  I had two friends in the car, and we all had to stop, around midnight, and call our families.  Not fun.

I am infamous for calling up friends to get help.  My not-so-favorite time was when, on my way to a soccer field way out in Podunk, New Orleans (why do they stick soccer fields in hard-to-find places?), I called up my daughter’s best friend’s dad.  He could find his way out of the Sahara Desert.  He asks, “Where are you?  What do you see?”

I shouted back in frustration, “All I see are trees.  Lots of stupid trees.”

Yeah.

Ok…so it’s obvious that I use a GPS all the time!  Even then, I still get lost!!!  The GPS actually once yelled at me (I kid you not) when I was looking for a yarn store in New Orleans (different trip).  Maybe she was mad because I really wasn’t supposed to be spending money.  I’m sure the Mr. had paid her off.

The last time I used a GPS was two weeks ago…on my way across town to the high school where my mentor teaches.  I had passed this school the two times Rooster’s band had to play at that school.  I didn’t trust myself, especially in early-morning rush hour traffic.

2.  What’s your favorite cookbook?

Ha, ha, ha!  Funny one, Joyce!  Right now it’s the menu of Panera.  Take 1 bowl of Black Bean Soup, add 1 long baguette, and take it To Go.  Serves 1.  (I’m a pig and eat the entire baguette…to help keep my weight up, I might add.)

Sorry folks.  That’s my life right now.  On the plus side, I’m earning a lot of free goodies thanks to the frequent buyer card the place has.  😉

3.  What painting would you like to “walk into” and experience?  Why?

The first thing that came to mind was The Last Supper

Oh my word, but just to be with Jesus while He was still on earth and be able to break bread with Him!!  Wow!

But, I will get to do that when I enter heaven one day, and that will be even better!!

4.  What annoys you more:  misspellings or mispronunciations?

Hmmm…English teacher speaking here…I can’t say that one annoys me more than another.  I probably encounter mispronunciations more often than misspellings; however, I cannot stand to read misspelled words…especially on prestigious web sites or, say, in teenagers’ essays.  It’s called Spell Check, people!!

5.  What is something your mother or father considered important?

A good work ethic is the legacy my parents handed down to me.  I’ve recently been called a workaholic.  I don’t see myself as that.  I do see myself as an overachiever (my mentor alluded to this as well in an email I received from him yesterday).  I just cannot accept anything less than my best or others’ best.  My poor students have had this drilled into their heads this year.

6.  Do you like or dislike schedules?

I dislike them only because I have to live by them so rigorously right now.  I am ready to retire and not be tied to any kind of schedule.

7.  Let’s have some fun with National Poetry Month (that would be April).  Write your own ending to this poem:

“Roses are Red
Violets are blue…
One of my students
Likes to write about poo-poo.”

I kid you not.  My juniors and seniors have been maintaining blogs, and this student of mine is extremely funny (of course, she has me as a great role model in that department…har-de-har-har).  If you have a sec, would you visit her page and give her a comment?  These kids come into class smiling when they get comments.

8.  My Random Thought

Words with Friends is going to be the death of me.  The Mr. doesn’t know how to use half of the features of his fancy, schmancy phone, but somehow, he discovered how to download, install, and use this app.  And now he expects everyone else to play the game with him.

Folks, he LIVES for this game.

I resisted the urge to play along, but after I started games with Chicky and Rooster, the Mr. pouted.

I was trying to be a good girl and not get too distracted from my classes.

He pouted.

Finally, I invited him to play a game.

Oh, good gravy.

Now, we have two games going.  When one ends, he invites me to a rematch.  Even though I decline, he persists.

As I sit in the main room working on assignments, all I hear is the tinging noise that signals that he has entered a new word.

This goes on ALL NIGHT LONG.

Seriously.

Yesterday, he even hunted down Rooster…dared to enter a teenage boy’s room…and asked, “Why haven’t you put a word in?”

Yeah.

What about you?  Have you discovered this game yet?

 

Disclaimer: That is not my username.

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

A Strange Occurrence

Posted on April 5, 2011 by auburnchick

Something strange has been happening in Chez AuburnChick.

Now, now.  Don’t you dare start in with, “That’s nothing new.”  This is something I already know.

However, I find it my purpose in life to tell you how much stranger my world is than the one in which you live.

Take, for instance, the latest occurrence.

Way back in December, after I put away my Christmas decorations, I noticed that some of my hand towels were missing.

I hunted through every single Christmas storage box and closet, but I simply could not find them.

I finally quit looking, figuring that I’d find them next year when I start decorating again.

Not too long after, I couldn’t locate some of the dishcloths and washcloths that I knit.

Now this, my friends, was not good.

I knit those babies during the last summer Olympics…

You can view more pictures in the posts I wrote here and  here.  Knitting with Sugar ‘n Cream is not easy on the hands, which magnifies the tragedy.

I queried Rooster, but he claimed he didn’t eat them or throw them away in a fit of knitophobia.

I finally quit looking.

I figured that something things are better left unknown.

And then, the final straw.

This morning, when I changed my mind about what I was going to wear to work, I realized that I could not find one of my favorite pair of pants…light brown Hollister pants that fit me to a “T.”

You guys…it’s not easy being petite…finding pants that fit in the length and the waist.

I am not very big, you see.

And yet, I could not find these pants.

Oh.

My.

Word.

Something is happening in Chez AuburnChick.

Things are beginning to disappear, and I am beside myself.

I don’t have time to be looking for stuff.

I have lesson plans to write, books on diversity to read, and…um…oh yeah…classes to teach.

Before too long, I’m going to be nekked (that’s Redneck for “naked”) and dirty (no washcloths), and I’ll have a sinkful of dirty dishes, and that is simply not going to do.

Whatever should I do?

Do I have a Hollister-loving, knit washcloth-loving thief in my home?

Sigh.

If only I could knit some fancy thief trap to catch the perpetrator in the act.

But alas, I don’t have time.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Filed under: Knitting, This-n-That | Tagged: | 4 Comments »

13 Weeks to Go

Posted on April 4, 2011 by auburnchick

Another week of my educator certification classes is now behind me.

Finally.

It was a very long week.

I nervously awaited feedback about the assignments I had turned in, and to my dismay, two of them got returned for corrections.

As a perfectionist, this was devastating and really set my nerves on edge.

These assignments were for the teacher who will observing me on Friday too, so it’s no wonder I was upset!

The program, though, is great because the point of it is to help students attain mastery of skills.  Students are not expected to turn in perfect work, and the instructors give feedback so that students can learn from their mistakes.

So, I emailed my instructor several times, made some corrections, and resubmitted the work.  I hope she accepts them this time.

Meanwhile, I began feeling overwhelmed as my second observation day drew closer.

I spent some time on Wednesday evening crying on the couch.  Rooster was very sweet as he listened to my fears.  He reassured me and offered sage advice, “Well, Mama, you can’t quit now.”

Gee.  Thanks.  Being reminded that I am stuck in this until July was not very comforting, but he was right.

I am not a quitter.  So, I dried my tears and pushed on.

On Thursday, I had to go into my mentor’s class and teach the lesson plans he had prepared.

Folks, if you’re not good friends with a teacher, you probably won’t know that teachers who have been in this field for a long time do not make detailed lesson plans.

While teacher candidates write 15-20 page lesson plans, experienced teachers fit their plans on small squares of paper.

That’s it.

Oh my word, but my first class did not go well.  I was very nervous.  It was okay, but not great…certainly not up to the standards I have for myself.

Fortunately, my mentor was there, and he was able to step in and provide some assistance.  I watched, took mental notes, and used that information during the second class.  It went a lot better, and I was actually pleased afterward.

After his last class, we sat down and began discussing the lesson plan for next week.

My biggest assignment this term is to write a collaborative lesson plan with my mentor and then teach that lesson plan to my mentor’s classes.

By collaborative, I mean that I have to write the lesson plan, and my mentor offers suggestions and corrections.  Then, I make the corrections, submit it to him again, and he looks over until it’s right.

I get to do most of the work.

Folks, my least favorite part about teaching is writing these lesson plans.

Especially for these certification classes.

Oh.  My.  Word.

There are so many different components that students have to put in them…motivation, materials (that’s the easy part), performance, standards (easy), student learning outcomes, performance/practice, review, assessment, and differentiated instruction.

Sigh.

Aren’t you tired just reading that?

So am I.

I knew that the weekend would be rough.

It was.

While Rooster and the Mr. went to a movie, I sat at home experiencing writer’s block.

Although I knew what topic I would be planning my lesson for, I could not wrap my head around any definitive ideas.

I wanted to cry.

I sat in front of the computer for two hours with barely anything coming out of my brain.

Finally, I prayed…mightily.

In the bathroom, I might add.

Remember that I have spent many minutes praying in bathrooms.

That seems to be the magical place to go.

Not too long after, I felt my brain start loosening up.

Ideas started coming.

I googled.

I took notes.

I googled more.

I took more notes.

I began to have a vision of what I would be teaching.  I could see a plan opening up.

Once again, God had answered.

He knows how much I doubt myself.  He knows how tired I am.  He knows how badly I do want to throw in the towel some days.

Having a career is not easy, people.

Life was much simpler when I could stay home.

Sigh.

But, I know I’m supposed to teach.

God knows that too.

I took a break and went to Panera for dinner.  I actually ate my dinner there just to give myself a break.

I had more ideas coming, so I wrote them on the back of my receipt.

Then, I hurried home and started typing.

I got about 1/3 of the way done before retiring for the evening.

After church on Sunday, I returned back to my table, where I spent another seven hours working.

I can’t tell you how many times I considered taking a nap.

Napping and Sundays go together like peanut butter and jelly.

But I didn’t.

I had to get my lesson plan emailed to my teacher so he would have time to review it.

I cannot tell you how good it feels to complete an assignment of that nature.

It’s as if a cartload of bricks gets lifted from my shoulders every single time.

Of course, that cartload will return this week as my final observation day draws nearer.  It’s not fun being evaluated when you teach…especially when you don’t have a lot of experience yet…and especially when you are easily intimidated by people who completely have their acts together.

Please pray for me.

I know God wants me to do what I’m doing, but I am a human being who has doubts and fears…especially when feeling overwhelmed, which is most times lately.

The good news is that when I post next, I’ll officially be halfway done with this program.  But first, I’ve gotta get through this week!

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

Loyalty

Posted on April 3, 2011 by auburnchick

Loyalty.

This word came up during the sermon at church this morning.

My ears perked up when I heard it because it is key to the collaborative lesson plan I am writing for my certification class.

The word “loyal” comes from the Latin word legalis, which means legal.  Think of a marriage contract, where a person is legally committed to another person.

Interesting, eh?

My pastor explained that though ambassadors serve in foreign countries, their loyalties remain to their home countries, for they ultimately serve those countries.

Ambassadors have the responsibility of carrying messages from those in authority in their home countries to people in the countries in which they are living.

Food for thought.

As Christians, we are ambassadors who serve the King who reigns in heaven.

Our citizenship is not here on earth.  It is in heaven.

Through the death of Jesus and our belief in Him as the conqueror of sin, our places are secured.

Thus, our loyalties lie with our home country…Heaven.

However, we don’t just sit around earth idly twiddling our thumbs waiting to be “taken home,” so to speak.

We have the responsibility to share God’s message with the people around us.

We have three more weeks of Lent.  I think that sharing God’s message is something we think about more during this time of the year.  However, this should be something that is foremost in our minds all year long.

We have an amazing God.

He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins.

If we don’t acknowledge that we need a Savior and die without doing so, we will spend eternity in hell.

Where is your loyalty?  Who are you serving?  These are questions that we all need to ask ourselves regularly.

We sang the song Stronger this morning…

Here are the words:

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner’s cross you broke my shame and sinfulness you rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny through the storm and through the fire there is truth that sets me free Jesus Christ who lives in me

Chorus
You are stronger you are stronger
Sin is broken you have saved me it is written Christ is risen Jesus you are Lord of all

No beginning and no end You’re my hope and my defense you came to seek and save the lost you paid it all upon the cross

So let your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher

Filed under: Christian | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Week 31 of Teaching

Posted on April 2, 2011 by auburnchick

Someone please tell me where the week went!!  First it was Monday, and then all of a sudden it was Friday!

Ok…maybe if I take a look at my pictures, I’ll be able to reconstruct the week…

Oops.  Houston, we have a problem.

I don’t have a picture from Monday.

Oh dear.

Perhaps my classes didn’t do anything?

Nope.

If I’m not mistaken, on Monday, my ninth through twelfth graders worked on their technical manual instructions.  My sixth graders began reading a new story – The Ghost of the Lagoon.  Their new vocabulary words came from the story.

On Tuesday, we had an internet safety assembly.  A member of the local sheriff’s office came in and presented half of the information, while an FBI agent came in and gave the second half.  The students asked a lot of questions.  I kind of think they were stalling for time…not wanting to return to class.  I can’t say that the teachers discouraged them.  😉

Despite that, I still managed to get a tiny bit of instruction taken care of in my second period class…

My sixth graders continued reading the short story they had begun the day before…

Now, when Wednesday arrived, I was psyched!

I think I’ve mentioned that four of my classes are reading The Seventeen Second Miracle.  Well, Wednesday, we had our first “book club.”

Students had to answer a set of questions prior to coming to class, and they also had to write reflective journals.  If you’re interested in my lesson plans, please click here.  I uploaded the file to Google Docs and made it public.

Well, I am happy to say that the discussions went very well.  The first week covered the Prologue and Chapters 1-11.  I really feel as if students are, for the most part, enjoying the book.  A couple of my students differed in their opinions of the opening chapters.  One felt as it was boring, but another said that she kept reading the book precisely because of the opening chapters.  It was very interesting to listen to them discuss the merits of the book.

There is a lot of predicting going on, which is higher-order critical thinking.  As teachers, this is something we should strive for.

We’re not going to have the book club next week due to standardized testing, but after that, we will meet one day a week during class time.  I am ready!

My sixth graders, however, are not reading the book.  They continued to work through their short story.  They really seem to like the story.  A couple of students had read all the way through it before coming into class.  It is always good when you can get students interested in reading.

On Thursday, I had to teach my mentor’s class for my education certification field experience class, so I got a substitute for my kids and left instructions on the board…

Then, it was Friday!

April Fool’s Day.

Um…yeah.

I’ve never been one to play practical jokes, but as I began writing the day’s schedule on the board, a little imp jumped into my body…

See, I was supposed to give my students their vocabulary tests…ALL of my students.

I decided to play a little joke and left the evidence on the board.

My first period class…my seniors…walked in.  One of the girls looked at the board and yelled out in relief.  It would seem as if she had not studied for the test, despite having the words for nearly two weeks.  She’s got a lot going on right now.  She was so psyched.

I started feeling guilty at that point, but I managed to keep a straight face.

I went over the stuff at the bottom of the board, which was no joke, and then I confessed that I had played a trick on them.

Oh.

My.

Word.

They did laugh about it, and they promised not to tell the juniors, who would be coming into my classroom next.

For that class, only three students arrived on time.  The other two girls had to make a pit stop first, and because we only have two minutes between classes on Fridays, I did not mind.  Meanwhile, my three students looked at the board, and their jaws dropped.

Still, I managed to keep a straight face.

One of my students got angry, though.

He was frustrated because he had studied.

Oh, I felt so bad that I confessed on the spot.

Still, those three students agreed to keep mum when the other girls entered the room.

They were shocked when they saw the board and couldn’t figure out how Usually-Organized-Mrs-AuburnChick would forget her stuff.

teeheehee

Finally, I confessed, and everyone took the test.

I left the board as it was for my sweet little sixth graders.

They at first suspected it was a joke, but again, my marvelous acting skills were put to good use.

I managed to convince them that I was serious, and they breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, I dashed their hopes…gently, of course.

They were good sports and laughed it off.

The scenario repeated itself for my last two classes.

It was quite fun.

I don’t think I’ll be able to pull off this joke again, though.

And so Week 31 of my first year of teaching ended.  Next week will be long in some respects but short in others.  I’m sure you’ll be waiting on the edge of your seat in anticipation.

😀

Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

The Payoff

Posted on April 1, 2011 by auburnchick

As you know, Rooster has been in band for the last two years.

When he joined up his Sophomore year, he had very little experience reading music.  He’s a play-by-ear kind of kid.  He felt fortunate to make cymbals that first year, and he certainly learned a lot and got some fabulous arm muscles in the process.

Last year, he made tenors, and I watched as his skills improved weekly.

There were a lot of ups and downs this year in band, and Rooster gave serious thought to not trying out for his senior year.

Things changed a couple of months ago, and Rooster got his band mojo back.  He eagerly awaited the day of tryouts.

That day came on Thursday.

Rooster had a goal…

To make snares.

He worked hard.  I frequently heard him practicing in his room in between games on XBox Live.

I think he might have thrown a little bit of studying in there somewhere.

The Mr. and I eagerly awaited Rooster’s arrival home.  With him driving now, there’s no car ride in which to chat.

The Mr. went so far as to drive by the school, hoping to catch an earful of that wonderful drumming music.  Instead, he saw the kids walking back inside (they had been drumming outside).

Finally, Rooster sent me a text that let me know he was on his way home.

Two minutes later, he arrived (we live next door to the school).

He had made it.

Duh.

No.

He had made snares.

He had the blisters on his fingers to prove it.

My sweet boy, who, while in middle school (only a few short years ago) had watched Podunk High School’s drumline play during football games and decided that he wanted to be a part of the fun, had reached his goal.

He had worked hard, and the payoff was worth it.

I am so excited for him.

I am also incredibly proud of him.

Rooster tends to be a shy kind of kid.

It takes a lot of guts to try out for a high school band when you never played in middle school.

I am going to remember his example whenever I get discouraged and feel like quitting in my quest to reach my own goals.

Rooster, I love you and want you to know that you truly are a one-of-a-kind guy.  I am proud to be called your Mama.

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