my crafty side

The finished product looks nice, neat, and organized ... but it takes a big mess to get there! It is not a surprise to find my dining room table covered in paper scraps, ribbon, pieces of wood, paint brushes, glue sticks, and more. (Still dreaming of a craft room!) Though it can be a hassle to take out all my craft supplies to make an a.j.e.less designs order, a gift for someone I love, or even something to decorate my own home, it is oh-so worth it. Crafting equals relaxation for me. I also love taking photos of each design when it's done. All I wish is that I had time to create and design more often! 

to live by

change

I've never been very good at change.


Being a teacher has definitely helped me become more flexible - there's no telling how kids can change your plans! - but it is still something I struggle with, especially when I am expected to alter my plan or routine quickly.


So, it's a good thing I know now already that there are going to be significant changes in store for me at work next year:


1. I have to say good-bye to my current classroom - with its vast rows of cabinets, upgraded windows, and the quiet hallway that came with it - and embrace the idea of a new space to teach in next year. It will most certainly be a project to box away all the books and teaching materials I have inherited/collected in just 3 years of experience, but I completely understand why I need to do it. With enrollment dropping each year, it only makes sense to move the preschool classes into our elementary school building. This will allow us to use the current preschool building for other purposes, most likely a day care for children that haven't reached school age. We have classrooms available in our school, now that each grade level has only 2 classes instead of 3, so it makes sense to have all Pre-K through 4th grade students in one place. Though it will take some construction (and chaos) this summer, I believe it is a wise decision based on a long term perspective. 


But not all wise decisions are easy ones! I admit that I have some sentimental attachments to my current classroom - not only is it "where it all began" for me as a teacher, but it also happens to be the same room that I came to every day in 2nd grade. On the other hand, it will be nice to move away from the sunshine during the heat of the day and (though I love music) have some distance from the music room so that I don't have to compete with the sounds of 4th grade chorus, or better yet, 4th grade students playing recorders! Overall, thinking about the physical chore of packing up everything, moving it down the hallway, and reorganizing in a new space can be overwhelming at times, but I am also (surprisingly!) excited to start fresh in a different classroom.


2. Next year we also need to part ways with our enrichment program for gifted students due to lack of funding. Currently, I have about 6 students who are pulled out of my class for an hour and a half each week so they can be challenged in reading/writing and math. Though this still leaves me with 13 students to work with, I look forward to this time as an opportunity to practice essential skills that my brightest students don't need to review. This time is also ideal for setting up centers, meaning that I can work with only 3-4 students at a time on a concept that needs reinforcement. So unfortunately, the cutting of our enrichment program means that not only are gifted students going to miss out on established times with a smaller student to teacher ratio, but all students will lose that time to work more closely with a teacher. It also means that I need to rethink how I differentiate for students who learn more quickly. Though I already do my best to meet the needs of all students in my classroom so that no one falls behind or loses interest, I won't be able to "bank" on that extra hour and a half when I know gifted students are stretched beyond the bounds of 2nd grade. Thankfully, all grade level teachers will receive training in the coming weeks on how we can best challenge our higher-level thinkers. I will need to think (even more) out of the box next year so that all of my students are reaching their fullest potential.


3. A final change for next year is (hopefully) a huge advantage - I will have an extra set of hands on deck - a student teacher! And not just any student teacher, but one from none other than my alma-mater, Calvin College. (Yes, I like to think that student teachers from Calvin are top notch!) Miss H will be joining us from the start of the school year through late November. I am eager to have her help, especially for working with small groups of students. Of course I will also love gradually handing over my curriculum books so that she can plan and teach some lessons too! :) I hope that I can help her grow in her confidence as a teacher and feel prepared for taking on a classroom of her own in the future.


With so many changes in store for next year, it is hard to stay focused on the here and now. But I only have 9 weeks left with my current class and they deserve my full attention! I hope to enjoy the time remaining with this unique and special batch of 2nd graders, and not dwell on or worry about the changes to come. Though it will be different in many ways, I know the 2012-2013 school year will bring new joys as well!

iLove technology

Yes, I've had my share of moments when technology does not make life easier! But lately I have been extremely grateful for the many ways I can stay connected with family and friends that are scattered around the country. So here's three cheers to technology:


1. Even though we live in 6 different states (ranging from MA to AZ!), I can still tell you what my closest friends are up to on a weekly basis thanks to our "Sunday e-mails." The idea of sending out a weekly e-mail to keep my friends up to date started way back when I graduated from high school. My trio of friends couldn't bear the thought of losing touch as we parted ways and spread out to various colleges. Instead, we made a pact that we would keep each other informed through weekly e-mails, to be sent out on Sundays when we all (hypothetically) had a chance to sit down at the computer and rest. You might think it would become monotonous, but it was always a joy to read and write these e-mails as it made us feel close to one another despite the distance.


My college roommates quickly found out about these Sunday e-mails and were amazed at our consistency in writing them. Four years later, when it was time for me to say good-bye to these college friends, we decided there was no better way to keep in touch than through this same idea of Sunday e-mails. Now, I write 2 e-mails each week, one to friends from high school and the other to my college friends. Thankfully I can include a lot of the same information! Though it is a big time commitment, it is so worthwhile. Sunday e-mails have been a great way of sharing joys and sorrows with close friends who happen to be far away. I also love knowing how I can pray for my friends on a weekly basis.  Though I can't say I'm always great at picking up the phone, I can say that I read and write a lot of e-mails!


2. Unlike many of our close friends, we are so grateful to live close to lots of family! We can simply walk down the stairs to visit my brother and sister in law, and it is only about a 10 minute drive to both of our parents' houses. If only his two sisters lived closer! Thankfully there is Google Plus to keep us connected to my husband's two sisters and their families. It has been especially nice since our first niece was born. She grows and changes so fast! There have now been several occasions when the entire family logs onto Google Plus at the same time to "hang out" together and watch our niece make new noises or eat her first solid food. Just last weekend, we got to see her crawl! Without technology, we would miss out on these exciting events.


3. Remember our soul friends, and how crushed we were when we found out they were moving away from us? I must say we have done an excellent job of seeing each other on a regular basis, but then there are nights when we have no plans and simply want to call them up to say, "Want to come over for pizza and a movie?" On one such night, we decided we would have to settle for chatting with them via Skype. It was the best we could do - or was it? That's when my husband had the great idea of playing our favorite game with A&M - just doing it virtually instead of in person. I was skeptical at first, but he convinced all of us to go out on a limb and give it a try. Sure enough, we broke out two identical game boards - set one up in NY and the other in NJ. There were some glitches that we had to figure out - how can we trade cards with other players when they aren't here? How can we choose cards from the same deck? But we managed to make it work and had a lot of laughs (and great conversations between turns) in the mean time. At the end of the game (yes, we made it to the end without giving up!) I could honestly say that we "hung out" with A&M - it felt like they were here with us the whole time. We all agreed to do it again!


I know technology can be a burden at times, but I sure am thankful for it! Now if only I could get an iPhone?! Imagine the possibilities! :)

in memory

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since we said our last goodbyes to Grandpa. He has most certainly been missed, though I can smile when I remember the good times we shared together as a family. Whether he is here or not, I will always be his "pup." I also take comfort in the fact that Grandpa is in heaven, where there is "no death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). I look forward to seeing him again someday!

We love and miss you Grandpa!
Long Beach Island, 2003

spring break

If given the opportunity, I would jump back on a plane to Orlando, Florida in a heartbeat! We spent 5 days there last week with my parents, youngest brother and one of his friends. Though there is so much to do in Orlando, we opted for staying at the resort and being lazy by the pool most days. It was an amazing change of pace from our day to day routine. Here are some of the highlights:

safe and on-time flights to and from Florida,

sunshine and temps in the high 80's everyday,

walks with Mom,

reading Sarah's Key,

having time to play around with my new camera!

palm trees swaying overhead,

pool-side afternoon naps,

rest from work,

relaxing in the hammocks,

cooling off in the water,

refreshing strawberry daiquiris,

several rounds of mini golf,

and shuffleboard too,

eating dinners out,

a night at the Disney boardwalk,

plenty of ice cream!

spending a half day on Tampa Bay,

catching up with college friends,

celebrating Dad's 50th birthday,

a gift from the heart,

watching him read through each one,

spending time with my parents,

getting them to "model" for me

The only hard part was leaving! I hope we can go back next year!

soul friends

People talk of "soul mates" - a couple that belongs together, was destined to be together. So can someone have "soul friends?" People that you are naturally drawn to? People that bring out the best in you? People that you can be yourself around, be (brutally) honest with, and enjoy many laughs with? I know it sounds cliche, but that's how we feel about our friends A&M. 


We met A&M at church about two years ago. We were trying out different churches at the time, and on this particular week, we found ourselves sitting behind them. They eagerly introduced themselves to us after the service, and even followed up with us midweek with a phone call. We sought them out at church week after week, getting to know each other gradually. It wasn't long before they invited us to their place for dinner, then we invited them to our wedding, and the rest is history. We all felt the beginnings of a strong friendship even from early on. We were eager to spend more time together in the years ahead!


Just a few months later, we bought a house within walking distance of A&M's! We couldn't wait to tell them our news, knowing they would share in our joy. So you can imagine our disappointment when on the very night we told them of our recent nearby purchase, A&M also had some news to share. They made a tough decision - to leave the area. They were given an exciting opportunity to partner with family and start a church plant in Syracuse, NY. Though our friendship was a big obstacle in their decision making, they felt God calling them elsewhere. Needless to say, the night was bittersweet. We supported their decision (of course) and were happy to hear about their new adventure, but definitely left in tears. I wondered why God would introduce us to such great friends if our time near each other was so brief? I admit that I was not a fan of God's timing and question it to this day.


But, the good news is that despite the distance between us, both couples have made a consistent effort to see each other on an almost every-other-month basis. We have a good streak going! All four of us look forward to our times together and make sure to plan them well in advance. Here are some pictures from our most recent weekend with A&M, when we biked across the George Washington Bridge and along the Hudson River in New York City:

I look forward to the next time we will be together with our "soul friends" and thankful for their friendship, even with the miles between us.