The Beginning of Summer...

There are many things I enjoy about being a teacher. One of those is summer. People think that we don't do anything during the summer, but my most valuable time is during the summer. I get to plan out my curriculum week by week, I get to decide the direction I want to take with my new, incoming students, and I get to read, prep, and attend professional development opportunities. Not to mention, graduate school and prep for National Boards...it's a lot!

On the flip side, if you think our jobs end exactly in nine months time, then you are rudely mistaken. Granted, the time off is a blessing in disguise. I get to reboot and recharge, and the best part is I get to spend all that time I lost between the time school began until now, with my daughter. And to me, that is priceless. And if you don't have your own kids, then you have no idea what a full time job it is to raise them. Not saying that your life is not packed and crazy, but on top of a full time job and raising a child, it is time consuming. Again, I wouldn't change it for the world. I am quite blessed that I get this opportunity to spend with her, one on one.

So, cheers to summer! My posts will be few and far between for a few weeks, as I am traveling to Colorado, but will update sometime end of July.

The flowers we picked on a walk.

Playing with a caterpillar in her tunnel

Not certain about the cotton

Hello!

Evening treat of chocolate milk

Looking at the creek below

She sleeps---how she rolls

Enjoying canoeing Lake Crescent

Brad directing us

Helping paddle

So proud of herself

View from on the lake

Wanting to feel the water

Checking out daddy

Back on shore-drinking water

Had to wade

Throwing rocks

Got sassy on the hike...

So she hid in a tree.

Bubbles are a staple of summer

Bubbles

"Can you help me, mama?"

Comments

For the future's not ours to see...

There is so much going on in our world today that is negative. I get irritated with watching the news and seeing such drama the media portrays. I never really paid that much attention to it until I had Madelynne and then everything changed about my perception of the world. It is scary, out there, when all you want to do is shelter and protect your little one. Maybe I am coming to the terms with growing older and realizing that life on this great planet is limited and to make the most of it. Being a SAH mom has really caused me to think and reflect on so many different things. It hasn’t always been sweet, happy thoughts, either. I know a few weeks ago I was really concerned for the end of the world and for my daughter and future generations that have to endure such drastic changes that will continue to occur over time. I find myself getting caught up with questions about my faith and my journey as a Christian and feeling lost and not knowing who to turn to or talk to about such conflict

Just B

In teaching poetry and preparing my kiddos this week for their poetry presentations, we watched a few spoken word poets via pre-selected versions on YouTube. One video that stood out the most was from the 2012 TED talks from spoken word poet, Sarah Kay. The poem is a perfect depiction of having a child and advice that a mother wants to carry on to her daughter...If you have an opportunity, I'd check it out on YouTube and just watch the "If I should have a daughter" or the title of the poem is "B". Sifting through the poem, I extracted a few of my favorite quotes and a few recent pictures of Madelynne to accompany them. Enjoy. "...Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away" (Sarah Kay, TED Talks, 2012). “...Remember, your Mama is a worrier, and your Papa is a warrior, and you are the girl with small hands and big eyes who never stops asking f

The Emerald Isle: The Middle

WICKLOW MOUTAINS AND GLENDALOUGH After our first initial stay in Dublin, we ventured south en route to our vacation rental which was near Cork. I wanted to see Glendalough Valley and the monastic ruins that have been there since the 6 th century. We got our first initial taste of “white knuckle” driving that everyone warned us about. Skinny, one lane roads with either old stone walls bordering each side of the road or overgrown, green foliage…it was a bit insane. Not to mention, the mountain passes were curvy and unforgiving. One local told us that to put the speed sign of 100k right before a bend was like the road was coaxing you, daring you to drive that fast. Many one lane bridges Ireland roads Glendalough was beautiful with historic and old ruins, two beautiful lakes, and expansive hiking trails. Old, Celtic cross tombstones and tight fitting graves dotted the landscape next to the monastery and tower. We saw our first deer here, so we high-fived at spotting wil

Mindless Meanderings of Schroedawg

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