Stardate: September 8, 2013
The fifth week of school is about to begin. I still have hair on my head, but I feel that it is turning gray quite quickly in this new environment. I have a few kids that love to test the limits, so as long as I keep reminding myself "this is only a test" then I can keep my thumb on them and test them right back, or lay the smack down, as I prefer to call it. Of course this "smack" is simply a metaphor and is not intended to physically hit any small children (insert legal disclaimer here.)
My new staff is extremely supportive and I have more resources that anyone could ever read/use in a year. Books galore and shelves full of things I'm sure I will only remember I have after that fact.
The biggest change is teaching 9 year olds instead of 11 year olds. You wouldn't think that 2 years makes much of a difference when it comes to what kids can and cannot do on their own, however it is a complete role reversal. Just when I think I can rely on these kids to do a task completely unassisted (or after an example or two) BAM, it backfires in my face, thus far without hilarious consequences. I need to keep reminding myself that the students in front of me are fresh out of 3rd grade where I think a kid peed his pants the other day...? 4th graders are not nearly as self sufficient as I thought, so I will continue to guide them and lead them as I do my 3 year olds at church.
Speaking of, new classrooms at church this weekend. New crop of kids. It's funny to see our old kids, they look...OLD! They are only 4 but they look much older than our current group of 3 year olds. The new space at TPCC is fantastic and i can't wait until we are in our final rooms and done moving around. It will be outstanding once the construction equipment is gone and everything is in it's proper place. Thinking back on the day - there is a scissor lift on the second story of the church, how do they plan on getting this back outside?
Well, another week of educating awaits. I hope I can keep all of the extra plates spinning that is required of us teachers...so many things, so little time.
PS. Baby Lucy will be here in approximately 6 weeks!
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
New Diggs
Well folks, it's been a while...
Tomorrow is the first day of school in a new building...with a new staff...with new kids...with new everything! It is invigorating and exciting and I can't wait to start my day. No coffee needed. "Am I ready?" is the question everyone keeps asking and any teacher will tell you that you are never truly, "ready" for the kids on the first day. You just get your room set up and your day planned out as best as you can and then go for it. Dive in, feet first, into the deep end, and occasionally stop to reflect on what's happening.
What am I most excited about? New kids.
I'll be in Pike Township which is a new school district. High poverty, like my last school, much more diverse in ethnicity and culture than my last though. I'm excited to hear and learn new languages. I'm excited to teach new things. I'm excited to have new stories to tell and enjoy new experiences.
Here's a few pictures of the new room; stay tuned for more funnies in the near future!
Tomorrow is the first day of school in a new building...with a new staff...with new kids...with new everything! It is invigorating and exciting and I can't wait to start my day. No coffee needed. "Am I ready?" is the question everyone keeps asking and any teacher will tell you that you are never truly, "ready" for the kids on the first day. You just get your room set up and your day planned out as best as you can and then go for it. Dive in, feet first, into the deep end, and occasionally stop to reflect on what's happening.
What am I most excited about? New kids.
I'll be in Pike Township which is a new school district. High poverty, like my last school, much more diverse in ethnicity and culture than my last though. I'm excited to hear and learn new languages. I'm excited to teach new things. I'm excited to have new stories to tell and enjoy new experiences.
Here's a few pictures of the new room; stay tuned for more funnies in the near future!
[ Just had to add one in here of the furry baby before the baby baby gets here! ]
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Flora-Bama
What a vacation!!!!
Sun, salt, golf, skim boarding, jet skiing (cancelled due to weather), lots of long hours in the car (thank you traffic), but lots of great conversations with the woman of my dreams and our very un-needy passenger (baby Wef.)
So thankful to be a part of this family!
Sun, salt, golf, skim boarding, jet skiing (cancelled due to weather), lots of long hours in the car (thank you traffic), but lots of great conversations with the woman of my dreams and our very un-needy passenger (baby Wef.)
So thankful to be a part of this family!
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| Lost Key Golf Course |
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| Sunset on Gulf Shores |
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| Sunset from the balcony |
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| Wildlife catching wildlife |
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| A new addition - coming October, 2013 |
Monday, April 8, 2013
Quick update - random happenings
I am the worst blogger ever.
+Jared Posey you are an inspiration! Keep the good work coming man. Be safe in your travels.
So much has been happening. Katie and I have been improving the house whenever possible; I only mention this because my last post was about the room that was all clean....it's back to looking like picture number 1. That needs to change before October though because we have a baby on the way!!!
Katie is due October 21. Thank you God for this amazing gift you have given to us. Pray-ers - we are asking for prayers for a healthy pregnancy. Non pray-ers - asking that you cross your fingers and send some good karma our way (or whatever your preference) so that Katie and baby Wef will continue to be healthy and happy!
Took an awesome Spring Break trip to Orange Beach, Alabama.
Have been riding the bike lots! Stay tuned for some racing pics/results/updates.
Have started a Triathlon & Cycling Team here in Zionsville with a friend Loren Long. Things are really coming together for us. Stop by New Balance on 99th and Michigan on Saturday April 13 for our first official team meeting. Free beer and sandwiches!
That's all for now!
+Jared Posey you are an inspiration! Keep the good work coming man. Be safe in your travels.
So much has been happening. Katie and I have been improving the house whenever possible; I only mention this because my last post was about the room that was all clean....it's back to looking like picture number 1. That needs to change before October though because we have a baby on the way!!!
Katie is due October 21. Thank you God for this amazing gift you have given to us. Pray-ers - we are asking for prayers for a healthy pregnancy. Non pray-ers - asking that you cross your fingers and send some good karma our way (or whatever your preference) so that Katie and baby Wef will continue to be healthy and happy!
Took an awesome Spring Break trip to Orange Beach, Alabama.
Have been riding the bike lots! Stay tuned for some racing pics/results/updates.
Have started a Triathlon & Cycling Team here in Zionsville with a friend Loren Long. Things are really coming together for us. Stop by New Balance on 99th and Michigan on Saturday April 13 for our first official team meeting. Free beer and sandwiches!
That's all for now!
Hilly Hundred
October 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Home updates
Home updates:
Boxes are getting unpacked and I'm trying to bribe the recycle and trash man to take out the mountains of rubbish we've put near the curb.
Finding a place for all this stuff has proven interesting and I'm hoping to find a new home for lots of it.
The Nebo Ridge rides on Tuesday and Thursday have been a great but I'm missing the Hinkle crew and some of my regular riding buddies.
And now for a realization - It has come extremely obvious to me that in this adventure of my stewardship of this house I will have "The List." "The List," will be lengthy. In fact, this list will be so lengthy it will be never ending. The list starts with one thing, and then another, and another. Not all of these tasks are difficult or overly time consuming; they are simply tasks that need to be done. The realization is that this list, being never ending in nature, is exactly that. I will never be done with this list and there will always be more tasks to do. Cross one or two off, put another on. Simply add another to the bottom and continue to work, diligently, carefully, humbly.
The sooner I accept that this list is never ending and that I will always have another task to do, the sooner I can get to work.
Boxes are getting unpacked and I'm trying to bribe the recycle and trash man to take out the mountains of rubbish we've put near the curb.
Finding a place for all this stuff has proven interesting and I'm hoping to find a new home for lots of it.
The Nebo Ridge rides on Tuesday and Thursday have been a great but I'm missing the Hinkle crew and some of my regular riding buddies.
And now for a realization - It has come extremely obvious to me that in this adventure of my stewardship of this house I will have "The List." "The List," will be lengthy. In fact, this list will be so lengthy it will be never ending. The list starts with one thing, and then another, and another. Not all of these tasks are difficult or overly time consuming; they are simply tasks that need to be done. The realization is that this list, being never ending in nature, is exactly that. I will never be done with this list and there will always be more tasks to do. Cross one or two off, put another on. Simply add another to the bottom and continue to work, diligently, carefully, humbly.
The sooner I accept that this list is never ending and that I will always have another task to do, the sooner I can get to work.
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| The start.... |
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| One thing crossed off the list! |
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Moved
Where to begin?????
New home. New fence. New Neighbors. New appliances....new life?
Moving is sort of strange in a way. One night you sleep in one location. Then the next you sleep in an entirely different place with all of your same belongings. This is different from say, staying in a hotel or with a friend, because you move all of your "stuff" with you. Same TV, same furniture, same piano, same utensils, cups, dishes, etc. they are all just in a different location. It is also interesting to see all of your "stuff" put into boxes and loaded into the back of a truck (or trucks in our case) I think the expression is unanimous when people move and think, "I didn't think we had that much stuff!"
Which leads me to wonder, why do I have so much stuff? Is it because I don't like to throw anything away? Somewhat. Is it because I just have too much stuff? Yes. I have come to realize though, that of all the things I do have, I cannot brag or boast about any of them. I believe these belongings are merely gifts from God that I am meant to steward until it is someone else's time to own them.
Take, for example, our house that we just moved from. I truly believe it was through divine intervention that I was able to occupy that house during the time frame that I did. How else could I have happened to mention that I was looking for a place to rent, to the exact person that I needed to mention it to, in the time frame that she was looking for someone to rent her house? This is just one small example of all the great gifts that have been bestowed upon me which I need to recognize and give glory to the proper place.
That glory is all His and I want nothing that I say or do to stand in the way of others recognizing that belief in my life. Amen.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
If you took my advice and visited Rangeline Nature Preserve (see other
post for RNP review) you will definitely need to venture down to French
Lick, Indiana for a day's worth of riding.
I was pretty unsure if I was going to put up with a 2.5 hour drive just for one place but let me give you some insight as to how wrong I was. - For the drive, bring a friend - Mountain biking is no fun alone anyways. It's better if you can make your friend drive so you can catch up on some light reading.
When you arrive in French Lick DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT stop at the Subway; unless you like veggie sandwiches or COLD steak and cheese. Seriously. Horrible.
You are going to want to park in the golf course parking lot. It's near some trains and it's past the first resort into town a little bit. When you get there, go into the golf pro shop and sign in on the clipboard on the front desk. Then check out all the fancy golf outfits and wonder why you are wearing spandex. Next, suit up. There's no need to drop trow in the parking lot. The pro shop is very courteous about you using the restrooms (which are SUPER nice) by the way.
When you are ready to hit the trail follow the sign down the gravel path and turn right over the covered bridge. Straight across, through the practice greens, and over the road will get you to the trail head. My suggestion to begin your adventure is to stick to the right when starting out. Either way you go uphill but I guess if you go right you are following the trail how it is "supposed" to be ridden. Now climb!!!! You'll climb your ass off for a while (not too steep, or difficult, just long and gradual). = at some point after the top of the climb you will cross a fire road - take a minute and travel towards the actual road that you can see (to the right if you are traveling the "correct" direction). Climb up the small grassy hill there and check out the sweet view that overlooks the valley and golf course =
Head back over to the trail and get ready for a nice lengthy downhill. You did all that climbing for something right? Now enjoy the fruits of your labor. For those that are more mountain bike savvy and want something a little more entertaining (or if you aren't that great but don't mind walking your bike occasionally) you will want to hit up the blue loop. It's a straight ahead as you are making a left bend on the downhill. It's pretty well marked. The blue loop is AWESOME. DO IT.The intermediate loop will put you back onto the green and you won't actually miss too much.
If you absolutely MUST know what you missed, well...enjoy the rest of your downhill and as you come to the bottom head back up and do it again.Worth the 2.5 hour drive? You bet and all I did was a green + blue and an extra green. Was a total of about 2 hours easy wheel spinning time.
Oh, when you are all done. Indulge yourself with a shower in the locker room and put on some clean clothes for the drive home. Remember, you've got 2.5 hours and no one wants to smell you.
I was pretty unsure if I was going to put up with a 2.5 hour drive just for one place but let me give you some insight as to how wrong I was. - For the drive, bring a friend - Mountain biking is no fun alone anyways. It's better if you can make your friend drive so you can catch up on some light reading.
When you arrive in French Lick DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT stop at the Subway; unless you like veggie sandwiches or COLD steak and cheese. Seriously. Horrible.
You are going to want to park in the golf course parking lot. It's near some trains and it's past the first resort into town a little bit. When you get there, go into the golf pro shop and sign in on the clipboard on the front desk. Then check out all the fancy golf outfits and wonder why you are wearing spandex. Next, suit up. There's no need to drop trow in the parking lot. The pro shop is very courteous about you using the restrooms (which are SUPER nice) by the way.
When you are ready to hit the trail follow the sign down the gravel path and turn right over the covered bridge. Straight across, through the practice greens, and over the road will get you to the trail head. My suggestion to begin your adventure is to stick to the right when starting out. Either way you go uphill but I guess if you go right you are following the trail how it is "supposed" to be ridden. Now climb!!!! You'll climb your ass off for a while (not too steep, or difficult, just long and gradual). = at some point after the top of the climb you will cross a fire road - take a minute and travel towards the actual road that you can see (to the right if you are traveling the "correct" direction). Climb up the small grassy hill there and check out the sweet view that overlooks the valley and golf course =
Head back over to the trail and get ready for a nice lengthy downhill. You did all that climbing for something right? Now enjoy the fruits of your labor. For those that are more mountain bike savvy and want something a little more entertaining (or if you aren't that great but don't mind walking your bike occasionally) you will want to hit up the blue loop. It's a straight ahead as you are making a left bend on the downhill. It's pretty well marked. The blue loop is AWESOME. DO IT.The intermediate loop will put you back onto the green and you won't actually miss too much.
If you absolutely MUST know what you missed, well...enjoy the rest of your downhill and as you come to the bottom head back up and do it again.Worth the 2.5 hour drive? You bet and all I did was a green + blue and an extra green. Was a total of about 2 hours easy wheel spinning time.
Oh, when you are all done. Indulge yourself with a shower in the locker room and put on some clean clothes for the drive home. Remember, you've got 2.5 hours and no one wants to smell you.
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