Shifting

Brennan Manning in his wonderful book, The Ragamuffin Gospel hit me in the gut when he said "shift from my badness to His goodness."

I've been so focused on my sins, shortcomings, and faults... I'm becoming so preoccupied with myself and my sins. My focus has been on what I'm not doing and how I've failed rather than how beautiful and how graceful God is.

I just had a revelation full of tears tonight in my apartment while remembering why I am a Christian. I follow Christ because I believe in His Love with all of my being. I don't know why I've let that slip away.

Grazie, Signore, for Your lips twisted in love to accommodate my sinful self; for judging me not by my shabby good deeds but by Your love that is Your gift to me; for Your unbearable forgiveness and infinite patience with me; for other people who have greater gifts than mine; and for the honesty to acknowledge that I am a ragamuffin. When the final curtain falls and You summon me home, may my last whispered word on earth be the wholehearted cry, "Grazie, Signore."
-Salieri's song in Amadeus (which I haven't seen or read)

Oh Lord, thank you for your grace. I love you.

Lyrics I'm Humming:
Bebo Norman "My Eyes Have Seen Holy"

Shakin' in the Midwest!

I am in the middle of recovering from my tonsils being removed last Wednesday, April 9. Yuk.

Oh my, my ex-roomie Anna was not joking when she said the recovery was awful!

I finally stepped out of my grandma's house today and went to my brother's soccer game where they beat Dowling 2-0! : )

Well, the weirdest thing happened last night. I was dreaming, and all of a sudden I felt like I was in a plane crash. My body shook and I thought the plane was going down. Fairly quickly, my dream turned into a horendous nightmare ending in a awful plane crash!

This morning, I woke up to find out that the shake I felt was actually the tremors of an earthquake! What?! Craziness!

So, after recovering from the mini-earthquake, I am still recovering from my surgery.

My throat still feels terrible, I can't talk, and eating is painful. Hopefully, I will feel better soon!

Two of my precious students from Miami sent me flowers today!!! Oh my goodness!!!! I almost started crying; I was so touched! : ) They wrote a really sweet note with the GORGEOUS BOUQUET!!! Thank you both so much! I miss you dearly!

Lyrics I'm Humming:
Catch My Disease by Ben Lee

See Key West! It's the Best!

I have now been to the Southernmost Southernmost point in the continental United States and I am incredibly proud to say so!

Elaina, Mel, and I went down to Key West for the day and had a delightful time. The drive down there was beautiful...through all of the Florida Keys, over The Seven Mile Bridge, past the various beaches, and with a spectacular view the entire drive.

I love nice weather.

We pretty much just wandered around Key West. The day could not have been more perfect. I could to experience Elaina and Mel's first time eating Key Lime Pie! Mel's face was great... "Oh my! This is tart!" Yes...it is lime pie.

Here is the point that marks 90 miles to Cuba. I have to say this is pretty swell! I would love to go to Cuba. It is on my List. Other places on my list are Israel (Jerusalem), North Korea, raising a child in a foreign country, and buying a family a goat.

Definitely go to Key West. It is wonderful!

Lyrics I'm Humming

Key Largo, Montigo, Baby Why Don't We Go to Jamaica or the Florida Keys?!

Adios Miami... for a while...

After throat infections 6 times since October 2007, I am finally getting my tonsils out.

The surgery is Wednesday, April 9th with Dr Greiman (a friend from Valley Church).

I will be in Des Moines Friday, April 4th to Thursday, April 24th. 

I am going to miss my students, but it will be good to take care of my health.

Last week, my Lenora B Smith Elementary School morning class got their Flat Stanley project back in the mail! Flat Stanley is a character from a Jeff Brown book that you send out to friends and family in the mail to experience those locations. After Flat Stanley visits the destinations, he comes back in the mail with postcards, pictures, brochures, and items from his travels. 

My kids were so excited to get Flat Stanley back! We had a blast with him! We made a class display with maps, pictures, brochures, and my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students even wrote persuasive letters persuading me to visit one of the three Flat Stanley destinations.

So, thank you for those of you who helped! My Miami classroom has now visited Des Moines, Tulsa, and Phoenix! If you want one of my other classrooms to visit your city, please let me know and we can send you Mr Stanley. 

Lyrics I'm Humming

Love Today by Mika

Snow Snow Snow Snow

My winter wonderland backyard in West Des Moines, Iowa.

What is it about snow that is so magical?

...Maybe it's the moment the snow falls and the anticipation of a snow day.

...Maybe it's the morning after a fresh blizzard where the whiteness graces everywhere one looks.

...Or, maybe it's the opportunity to play around with this white wonder.

Well. my students and many of the teachers I work with are fascinated with snow. Most of them have never seen snow in their entire life! Now, for me, a girl of West Des Moines, Iowa, snow is a part of my childhood and youth. Snow is lovely, but snow is also depressing and a pain! My memories of snow are not all magical wonder.

I do have some great snow memories!

So...I want to bring **snow** to my students somehow. Any ideas???

My back porch in West Des Moines, Iowa! So pretty!

Snow Fun Facts!

**Believe it or not, snow is actually clear or transparent. Snow appears white because the crystals act as prisms, breaking up the light of the sun into the entire spectrum of color.

**The largest snowflake recorded was fifteen inches in diameter!

**All snowflakes have six sides.

**No two snowflakes are alike.

**The fluffiest snow falls at temperatures around 15F.

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Let it Snow!