We are REJOICING with Josh, Amy, and Katelyn today!
A new daughter...very soon!
A new sister...very soon!
New joy in life...very soon!
Praise God for their long-anticipated letter finally arriving!!!!! They will likely be traveling in about 4-5 weeks or so. I can't even think of a word to describe their joy!!
*Worth being woken up from a sound sleep to hear Amy's excitement! (thanks for telling Ken to wake me up!)
*Worth laying awake for a long time afterwards with my mind whirling with joy for them!
*Worth waking up at 5:30 anticipating their travel to China and returning with Emma!
Thank you to all of you who have prayed for them. Please continue to do so! :)
Friday, May 18, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Good stuff...
I am taking a graduate class during the "Summer I" session (May and June). I was a bit uneasy about taking the class, but it is my last required course en route to finishing my Master's program (which was begun LONG ago!) After this I have just one credit left!
My class, "The Principalship," has been surprisingly good and I think it is the best one I've had in my whole program. While I have no desire to be a principal, I am learning many things. If I can put even a few of these into practice in my life, the class will be worth its weight in gold.
Tonight we heard a veteran principal speak. He shared things he's learned along the way. Some of my favorites, in my opinion (no particular order):
1. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
2. There is no room in education for the pessimist.
3. Hang the problems of the day on the tree out front before you go home.
4. "Help me to understand..."open ended and non-confrontational way to question someone.
5. Make daily deposits in the banks of difficult students ("I noticed that..."). When you need them to comply, ask them to "do it for me." (Love and Logic) He said this works for teachers, too.
6. Administrators and husbands are problem solvers. Parents and wives often just want to be listened to....
7. Listening is the most important part of communication.
8. Make a point to define the personalities on your staff that need your personal attention. Then give it to them.
9. The best way to motivate staff to make a change is for them to think it was their idea.
10. They won't buy into what you are teaching until they buy into you.
11. When days are stressful, think of your time at work in the form of a drama production. Take one act at a time.
12. Draw a name for a 1/2 day of comp time at each staff meeting (principal subs in your room). Wow! What a way to encourage morale at meetings!
Good stuff. Every day I am reminded of how much I need to rely on God for wisdom in all areas - as a wife, mom, teacher, employee, colleague, daughter, friend, etc.
My class, "The Principalship," has been surprisingly good and I think it is the best one I've had in my whole program. While I have no desire to be a principal, I am learning many things. If I can put even a few of these into practice in my life, the class will be worth its weight in gold.
Tonight we heard a veteran principal speak. He shared things he's learned along the way. Some of my favorites, in my opinion (no particular order):
1. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
2. There is no room in education for the pessimist.
3. Hang the problems of the day on the tree out front before you go home.
4. "Help me to understand..."open ended and non-confrontational way to question someone.
5. Make daily deposits in the banks of difficult students ("I noticed that..."). When you need them to comply, ask them to "do it for me." (Love and Logic) He said this works for teachers, too.
6. Administrators and husbands are problem solvers. Parents and wives often just want to be listened to....
7. Listening is the most important part of communication.
8. Make a point to define the personalities on your staff that need your personal attention. Then give it to them.
9. The best way to motivate staff to make a change is for them to think it was their idea.
10. They won't buy into what you are teaching until they buy into you.
11. When days are stressful, think of your time at work in the form of a drama production. Take one act at a time.
12. Draw a name for a 1/2 day of comp time at each staff meeting (principal subs in your room). Wow! What a way to encourage morale at meetings!
Good stuff. Every day I am reminded of how much I need to rely on God for wisdom in all areas - as a wife, mom, teacher, employee, colleague, daughter, friend, etc.
Monday, May 14, 2007
To Mom...
I love you.
I like you.
You are nice.
I like the food you cook.
You are the nicest Mom
I could ever have.
from Nathan
...Written in his sweet kindergarten handwriting...next to a picture he drew of himself and me. Also enjoyed a perky card with LOTS of happy stickers and bold pink lines from Robyn Lin. And Ken wrote some sweet things to me, including the words, "Six years of smiles. Three beautiful treasures. My life is blessed..." Seth grinned at me (complete with his at least 4 different cuts/bumps/scrapes/bruises-and that's just on his face) and said, "Happy Muver's Day, Mommy!"
I am blessed. Thank you God for my incredible life, husband, and children.
p.s. Praising God with the Fisher's for their adorable updated pictures of Emma Mei and the good news from China that their file is in "last stages of processing!!" Keep praying that letter comes SOON and they can go snuggle and hug her LIVE!
I like you.
You are nice.
I like the food you cook.
You are the nicest Mom
I could ever have.
from Nathan
...Written in his sweet kindergarten handwriting...next to a picture he drew of himself and me. Also enjoyed a perky card with LOTS of happy stickers and bold pink lines from Robyn Lin. And Ken wrote some sweet things to me, including the words, "Six years of smiles. Three beautiful treasures. My life is blessed..." Seth grinned at me (complete with his at least 4 different cuts/bumps/scrapes/bruises-and that's just on his face) and said, "Happy Muver's Day, Mommy!"
I am blessed. Thank you God for my incredible life, husband, and children.
p.s. Praising God with the Fisher's for their adorable updated pictures of Emma Mei and the good news from China that their file is in "last stages of processing!!" Keep praying that letter comes SOON and they can go snuggle and hug her LIVE!
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