Because Of You

Today I'm cooking on these three words: Because. Of. You.

0

Appreciating Thoughtfulness

Happy July; this morning I woke up appreciating thoughtfulness

because of this scenic shot.

It probably took less than a minute,

maybe only seconds really,

for my brother Mark to momentarily leave the reunion gathering

to walk into the corn field behind my Dad's house

and capture this dusk rendering of my childhood home for me,

but it was a big big deal to me.

He sent it, along with these words: Thought you'd appreciate.

Boy was he right.

He also sent a few video clips, of the relatives

singing some spiritual songs in my Dad's garage.

Be still my soul.

Even if this last month hadn't been a rollercoaster of emotions,

of highs and lows as I say good-bye and hello,

of lots of bitter sprinkled with some sweet,

of closing old doors and opening new opportunities,

who wouldn't appreciate going home for a few moments in time?

Being a little homesick just amplifies the appreciation.

So Mark has me thinking about thoughtfulness

and watching for chances

to seize those magical moments

to give those thoughts wings.

My friend Tamara Letter wrote about that very thing;

click her intriguing image below to read all about it.

She takes thoughtfulness a step further

and muses that it can instill hope.

I agree; it's simply powerful in its potential to heal.

So here's some super thoughtful stuff I've noticed lately:

My husband running to the grocery to swap out the hot sausage I picked up by mistake. A kind text from Michelle asking how I'm doing. A phone call from Amy to make a connection with something I posted on Facebook. An invitation from Cheryl to have a quiet celebration over dinner this week. A promise from Margaret to borrow that prayer book she recommends. Jacob mentoring his brother in time management. A special delivery from Lisa, a box of Rise cupcakes. A friendly hello from Officer Ives at the bank. A kind invitation to come speak at a Rotary meeting. An email inquiry from Faye, a counselor in North Dakota, about our ukulele lab.

Click the picture to support her Donors Choose project

A video message from Maria congratulating me on my encore career. A hand-written thank-you note from Mrs. Vaughn. An invitation from Melissa to come swimming. A box of puppets from Meghan, a teacher on Twitter, who learned from a podcast that our students love them. A Vox message from Joanne, a Principal in WA who wants to meet when my travels take me to the Pacific Northwest. Albert the Alpaca puppet, gratitude for my service at Bales, from my friend Wendy.  

      

So much priceless thoughtfulness, much of it at no cost,

proof that the most valuable things in life are free

and a reminder that what we appreciate, appreciates.

How might you find yourself appreciating thoughtfulness?

0

Finding Our YES

This evening as I sit in quiet reflection, I feel at once 

serene, 

satisfied 

and sort of sad. 

We're back from our trek to my childhood home, where we spent five majestic days enjoying family togetherness. The snowfall on our first full day in the Frozen Tundra frosted everything so beautifully.

One tree prettier than the next. 

As dusk fell ... 

so did the huge flakes of dense, wet snow that we trudged through on foot 

to pick up our Friday night perch at the Corner Cafe.

We woke up to this snow-covered scene the next morning.

That evening, a clear reminder that all is well.

 Silent night. Holy night.

The next day, we layered up and treated ourselves to some Christmas Eve magic at Lambeau Field, the cherry atop our holiday fruit cake. 

Nothing says home for the holidays like a Green Bay Packers win.

Bidding adieu is never easy, but {for some reason} 

this time around it was particularly difficult.

I always joke that I'm good at checking my feelings at the door,

but this visit is indelibly etched on my heart, for sure.

The lights on our Christmas tree will soon burn for the final time and, unless the Packers make the playoffs, the outside lights will come off of the house this weekend, attic-bound. Gifts are neatly packed away, card games at the table are now just a memory, Hallmark Christmas classics have had their final run, and the stores already have Valentine's Day candy hearts for sale on their shelves. Yes, it's safe to say that Christmas 2016 has now come and gone. And you can likely see why my feelings are all jumbled up as I enjoy the reflection in the rearview mirror.

So now it's time to look forward to the new year, 

to another fresh start, another chance to find our YES.

My thoughts for inspiring our National Honor Society inductees next Sunday are percolating. What does it mean, exactly, to find our yes? Just how do we do that? And when we find it, how can we make the most of it for ourselves and for others? I plan to suggest this three-fold head, heart, hands approach: 

Y is for yearn.

     E is for embrace.

S is for share. 

Yearn to learn. Believe that anything is possible. Pursue your passion.

Embrace the present. Experience it. Feel it. Appreciate it. Make it yours.

Share and show gratitude in all things. Live generously. Love wholeheartedly.

Still simmering; I promise to let you know how it goes.

0

The Shoulders Of Kindness

This quote found me this weekend and won't let me go,

so I put it on this picture of Joshua and John.

On the shoulders of kindness, what a great legacy to live.

The other day one of my kindergarten friends was invited

to tell her about my small-group feelings class.

He told her that he comes there to learn to be kind.

Then he added that Mrs. Gruener just wants us to be kind.

I got a little teary-eyed. And then I smiled.

Don't teachers have a big big job? It's heart work, for sure.

If you're a teacher, happy Teacher Appreciation Week.

Know that we celebrate, appreciate and love you.

You may not feel it every day

or know the impact you've made right away.

But one day, when you least expect it,

your influence will roar like a lion ...

and you'll be glad you answered the call and stayed the course.

To celebrate, Carson Dellosa is offering this money-saving offer ...

Click for details.

... and they made this beautiful video clip, just for you.

What would your students say if they were interviewed?

Our friends at MPM want to appreciate you with a discount; 

click the graphic to take advantage of their sweet deal.

NASA is offering some free summer STEM sessions for middle school teachers. Click {here} for that information.

Our friends at True Couponing posted a resource round-up complete with freebies and coupons {here}.

And if you're in the market for some top-notch Character Counts! character education training, we're hosting a three-day Character Development in San Antonio June 16-18. Click {here} for more information and/or to register. Another session will be offered in Mansfield ISD if you're closer to Dallas. 

Click {here} for details. 

Thank you, teachers, for helping shape the hearts and minds of our future.

0

PPBF: What Does It Mean To Be Present?

Fair warning: Today's PPBF might grab ahold and not let go!

Title: What Does It Mean To Be Present?

Author: Rana DiOrio

Illustrator: Eliza Wheeler

Publisher: Little Pickle Press

Date: July 2010

Suitable for: ages 4-8

Non-fiction

Themes: attitude, living in the moment, mindfulness

Brief synopsis: Journey through the pages for practical suggestions about practicing mindfulness and being in the now.

Opening pages: What does it mean to be present? 

Does it mean showing up in class? No.

Resources: Read a review at Books That Heal Kids {here}

Compare/contrast similar titles at The Mindful Classroom {here}.

  Watch the book trailer that's on You Tube:

Why I like this book: From the minute I saw this book posted on Roxanne's blog Books That Heal Kids, I knew I had to have a copy. In this world where we tend to run around like rodents in a rat race, busy-ness is glorified and people are plugged in to the latest app on their device instead of people and their feelings, its message is a must. And not just for kids. Read the book aloud, then ask students to reflect on this quote:

Photography by Cheri Cullen

Talk with students about what being present means to them. Ask them what that looks like, sounds like, feels like for them. Then ask who they wish were more present, and for whom they could be more present. 

{Don't make them answer that aloud unless they want to share.} 

Go back to the opening page. Being present is not just about showing up. What does the author mean? Do students agree? Why or not? Find out which pages they connect with, agree with, disagree with and why. Have them illustrate the book's mantra: Every day is a gift; that's why we call it the present.

For enrichment, you might even want to read Spencer Johnson's

The Precious Present.

Check out this book; I think you'll be happy you did.

Oh, and don't forget to unwrap and enjoy the present today.

For more PPBF picks, visit Susanna's blog.

22