Difficulties

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be. – Horace Bushnell


To each person that I, personally, know is hurting at this very moment - you are an inspiration to me. 


At some point in the past few weeks, you've made me smile a genuine smile and I've been consciously grateful for you and the moments we shared. 

Your strength is evident. 

The struggle you are lying down in today is the strength that will get you through to tomorrow. 

Love each of you more than you know, 

T

Tribute to Teachers

Every year I get sentimental at this time. Football is in the air. Students start two-a-days, band, cheerleading, etc. 


Place like Target and Wal-Mart have already had their school supply displays out for weeks. The new starts reporting on the tax free weekend (in Texas). 


School is in the air.


After tonight's meet the teacher experience, I want to send extra kudos to all my teacher friends. We are so blessed to have you teaching our children! (Lord help Avery's teacher, especially!)
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I cannot tell you the exact moment I knew I was meant to be a teacher, but my guess is that is was sometime after my sophomore year of HS. I use to dream about sitting in the teacher meetings, carrying a grade book, and teaching students something that would stay with them for a lifetime. 


Even though my time as a teacher of the typical classroom is over, I still get the same excitement and thrill while teaching teachers and helping to bring a 21st century teaching environment to every classroom. 
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Teachers never really know the impact of their words, actions, and life until much later in their career and sometimes never. 


As I sat in our districts convocation on Tuesday afternoon, I listened intently as Neal Jeffrey spoke to us about his struggles and victories as a stutterer. 


A few things he said resonated with me, but one thing in particular has been top of mind all week. He speaks of baby eagles who do not instinctively fly. They learn by watching their mother and by something called imprinting. I find this so fascinating for so many reasons, but I'll focus on the teaching aspect today. 


Baby eagles are born in their nests high above. Their mother flies around and eventually pushes the baby out of the nest. The baby falls. The mother swoops down, picks it up and pushes baby back down. This process continues until the baby bird realizes that it has the same ability to eventually fly and soar up above. 


Teachers are some of God's greatest gifts. I know this because I have a few teachers of my own that truly should be thanked for shaping my life in the way they did. Each year at this time, I take a second to look up some of my former teachers and email them a note of thanks. 


Here is something that I wrote this week to a very dear English teacher: 



"Freshman English. Your class. 8th grade teacher told me I could not sign up for 9th honors, so I ended up in your regular class. I remember telling myself I would do my best and prove the other teacher wrong.

At some point that year, you had us do an assignment where we researched someone famous and then were to do an oral presentation in front of the class.  We also had to dress the part. I was mortified about getting in front of people talking. Yes, I was a cheerleader, but my anxiety and self conscious attitude put a lot of fear in me. I could cheer b/c it was with a group, but for all eyes and ears to be on me? Fear.

I remember that I did fairly well, and the class voted that my presentation was the best of the class.

Fast forward to today.

I spoke for 2 hours presenting a technology district update for about 100 teachers. ?@!?@!?Had you told me then that I’d be doing that today, I would’ve laughed. But there is something so comforting about being up there with the microphone, speaking, teacher, hearing laughs, or the occasional “ah.”

Something magical happens and I just do it. Afterwards many of my mentor teachers who’ve seen me from first year teacher until now, told me how great I did. New teachers, said how my enthusiasm and tone of my voice made them pay attention and get excited.

Thank you specifically for helping me get out of that small box of a comfort zone I was in back then. It is because of you that I am who I am today!"


She wrote back a note of thanks and how proud she was of me. 
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As an adult, I now see that we are all teachers and that we all need to be taught. I pray for a teacher everyday and every single day someone teaches me something that inspires me, drives me and makes me better. 


As a parent now, I realize that for 5 years I did the very best parenting that I could. Then, I send my children to school and send them off to learn from others, as well. I have to be confident in the fact that they will have at least a few teachers like I did: 


A teacher who: 


will challenge and push them out of their comfort zone

will imprint on them some of the very best traits and habits

will give them something to dream for everyday

will show them a love that exists that is different from a parent's


THANK YOU, TEACHERS! I hope you have the year of a lifetime!



"If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher." ~ Pema Chodron