i.love.wintertime

I mean seriously - look at that!? This pic was taken a couple of Sundays ago at my parents' lake home on Loon Lake, WA. Family and friends skating, a pick-up game of hockey, and dogs chasing pucks all around. I love the balance of structure and chaos that winter brings. There is school, so life is pretty structured (at least for a teacher lady like me), but there is also the chaotic feeling that the weather causes us to experience. For instance: Will it snow? Will we have school? Ohp! Two weeks off for Christmas and New Years! Ohp! Two Mondays off for MLK and the Presidents! I'm okay with it. Also - I thankfully live in a warm home with warm clothes and plenty of warm food. Many do not. That is why winter also pushes us to be more giving and forgiving of others. Did I mention -BAM- the beginning of a new year is in the middle of this lovely season as well? What a fresh start, a new beginning, a chance to re-define yourself. Right in the midst of cold, snow, wind, and ice. The juxtaposition of death and new life is held in perfect balance during the winter season. Cold? Throw on a scarf. Hot? Take off your top layer. I love it. Did I also mention one of my favorite classic novels is set in the winter season? Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is one of my faves. I read it as a senior in AP English, and I think I'm quite due to read it again. I leave you with a quote from the novel:
"When I had been there a little longer, and had seen this phase of crystal clearness followed by long stretches of sunless cold; when the storms of February had pitched their white tents about the devoted village and the wild cavalry of March winds had charged down to their support; I began to understand why Starkfield emerged from its six months’ siege like a starved garrison capitulating without quarter" (Wharton).

Keep Guns 'Outta School

This slogan is from Crime Stopper's campaign and is popularly posted in public schools across the area. I obviously couldn't agree more with the statement. I would like to add a few other items to "keep 'outta school" myself, but we'll focus on the firearms.

Mostly because one was brought to the school I work at last week.

My reactions/feelings toward the situation? Scared. Troubled with "What if?" thoughts. Mad. Annoyed. Hopeful.

I am fearful for our future. I am thankful for the two students who had the guts to speak up and alert Administration to the weapon on campus. I am sad for every single kid involved. I am hopeful the rest of the student body learned a valuable vocabulary lesson about what a "snitch" REALLY is. It's not someone who reports a weapon on campus - I would call that person a HERO.

My definition of teaching is changing and shifting day by day of this new job. I have never been so stretched, so challenged, AND so rewarded in my short professional career. It is only the end of October - I've got 7 and a half long months to go - but I am very curious and interested at what other amazing lessons I shall learn.

Title I Life

I am officially one week into my new teaching job at a Title I middle school. Let me begin by saying it is different in every single way possible from the predominately white, upper middle class high school I taught at the last two years.

I have never had to adjust to something so new, and so fast, as I have in the last week.

Here are some interesting facts about the Title I school I work at:

5.6% Native American
2.2% Asian
4% Pacific Islander
6.1% Asian/Pacific Islander
6.1% Black
6.1% Hispanic
67.3% White

59.5% Free or Reduced Lunch
13.8% Special Education
5.8% English Language Learners

(Google WA State Report Card to look at stats like these on any school in WA State)

It is a breath of fresh air to be around this kind of diversity in Spokane. I love it. I love these kids. Thanks for giving me a job, God.

Until next time...

A tale of rain, the Ox, a muskrat, and a good dream

I had a wonderful weekend. Of course it rained (thanks, God), but what are we to expect for Memorial Day weekend, right? My hubby's best friend and his wife came for a visit with their adorable three week old son. I got to hold him lots and feed him which made me oddly ooey gooey inside. The effect babies have on the world! Josh held him a little, too. :o) We exposed them to the glorious sandwich shop called the Staggering Ox. If you haven't had the pleasure, I highly suggest it. While watching the UW softball team on Friday night, my friend and I decided we had to find the headbands their stellar pitcher Danielle Lawrie wears. They are sparkly and awesome. Thankfully, we have an "in" and found out we needed to Google "dream and believe headbands." Yes, folks, they are that powerful. Welp, now I'm hooked, and I am trying to get them sold at the cheer gym I work at. We'll be purchasing them in the colors of black, orange and blue, with a little zebra on the side, of course! A few other highlights of the way-too-rainy weekend? A fondue dinner of chicken, beef, broccoli, mushrooms in broth. Might I mention this is the FIRST time I've used my fondue pot since we got it as a wedding gift almost three years ago!? SAD. We dragged ourselves out to my parents' lake house after church on Sunday, and my hubby, his cousin, and my brother tried to take out a pesky muskrat almost the whole time. (There were intermissions of some video game - I think it is called Borderlands? Badlands? Something like that.) Thankfully, they did not succeed. Those buggers are fast! Monday evening was filled with a family get-together for my maternal grandmother's 75th birthday. I am trying to comprehend what 75 years of life is like. I can't quite wrap my brain around it yet. Oh, did I mention Chicago is beating Philly in the Stanly Cup Series two games to none? GO BLACKHAWKS. To top off my Mem Day Ten? A dream with my dad in it that I actually remembered (thanks, God).