On rare occasion I get into the type of mood that can only be described as the “Perfect Storm.” I am overly caffeinated and faced with a large chunk of time to myself (which is why this is so rare) , when suddenly it’s like all the clutter around me becomes unbearable. All at once,…
Jesus For Breakfast
Most everything about me is complex, except how I take my carbs. The simpler the carbohydrate, the higher the pleasure. It is a directly proportional relationship. As the carbs get more complex, like a sweet potato or a lentil, my attitude, overall mood, and level of satisfaction drops steadily. Hit me with a piece of white…
The Next Four Years
Four years ago, I was 22 years old and had my life totally figured out. I was in my second year of teaching and could cook a one course meal using a frying pan. Curiosity killed the cat, as they say, and my roommate Kendra and I blew out the pilot light on our gas fireplace….
The Knowns and The Unknowns
Nothing is easier for me than getting stuck in a cyclone of “I don’t knows.” I spin around and around until I am totally exhausted and have gotten no where. I don’t know why people get into debates on social media. I really can’t wrap my head around this one. To my knowledge, approximately zero people…
What God Does in the Discomfort
Patience and perseverance are not two of my strongest qualities. Unlike some of the Olympian greats, I prefer not to work hard, push through tough circumstances or wait extended periods of time to arrive at what I want. I prefer instant results with the least amount of work and discomfort possible. (Someone write this on an inspirational poster.) Max…
Using Cheese to Encourage Engagement and Participation in the Classroom
If someone told me a few years ago that I would eventually possess the ability to get a group of sixth grade boys to curtsy like princesses during a lesson on fairy tale vocabulary, I would have asked just what kind of black magic I got myself into. It must be some sort of wizardry….
How Replacing One Word Changed So Much
A few weeks ago, my boyfriend said to me, “I feel like you’re just anxious about being anxious right now…” And I replied, “Welcome to my brain. Please stay awhile.” When I told him that I would love to try out his logical, structured, factual engineer brain for a day, he responded, “Does that mean I…
Why I Haven’t Said Anything: I Promise I Still Care
I read somewhere this week, amongst the hundreds of posts I have scrolled through, that if I am not saying anything, then I am the problem. That my public neutrality on the issue makes me this or makes me that. I felt those statements in my gut. It’s not that I haven’t said anything. I have…
If We Knew the Plane was Going Down
For Christmas last year, my sister got me a great new chair for my desk at work. The instructions to put it together were moderately easy, but like with most things that come with a packet of directions, I gave up before I even tried. #inspirationquotes My dad put most of it together, but couldn’t…
My Summer Break Acceptance Speech
Greetings to all who read this. I am used to having an audience of about 27 little humans, so being here on stage to accept this award does not faze me in the slightest. When you have asked students to tell you if you have chocolate on your face or not, it takes a lot to feel…
Count Your Blessings, Not Your Chins. 