Courage for 2013

In the spirit of the new year, the traditional resolution list is necessary.  I may have thought of new year resolutions as something silly or stupid before college, but I have since changed my mind.  It's not about making a list that I'll never revisit again, or jotting down some goals that will easily be forgotten.  In fact, whatever one's resolutions list consists of makes no difference at all.  I always put down goals with the best intentions in mind and some I'll do and some I won't.  I doubt I'll think back to my list of resolutions in the middle of July.  Chances are, I probably won't think of my list past February.  The list has a secondary importance.  The reason why making the resolution list has become meaningful to me is this: reflection (such a Baylor word). 

Thinking about goals for the upcoming year forces me to deeply reflect on the past.  It gives me the chance to look back on the choices and mistakes I have made.  I feel inspired to grow and change for the better.  I realize my darkness and weaknesses but also my strengths, talents, and light.  Making new year's resolutions also gives me closure.  I can reflect on the past but not dwell on it by learning from it instead.  If I can make a list, rather I revisit it months later or not, I still go through a reflection process that leaves a lasting impression.

Decidedly, I need more courage in my life.  I need to face the world boldly and fearlessly because God is on my side.  I need more courage to love others (especially when  I don't want to), more courage to help others (especially when I wickedly decide they don't deserve it), more courage to rely on faith (especially when I don't let God take care of situations even after I realize my britches aren't big enough or when I foolishly think they are big enough), more courage to be a better teacher, friend, sister, and daughter (especially when I become impatient), and more courage to be wise (especially when I misguidedly think I know more than I actually do).

So the list - 13 resolutions for 2013:

1.  To be more Courageous in all facets of life
2.  To jog/run a 30 minute 5k
3.  Follow a solid investment plan
4.  Make more phone calls/send more text messages to dear friends to catch up
5.  Send more mail
6.  Make more time for crafts
7.  Continue to try new recipes
8.  Pray so much more
9.  Believe in the things I pray about
10.  Listen to God more... and just become a better listener in general
11.  Ride a horse again this year
12.  Let go of past mistakes (even if that involves people but still forgive and forget)
13.  Get overseas

Again, this list has been made with the best intentions.  I may look at it again later or I may not.  I may do all thirteen or just a couple (I'd hate to think none at all), but this list is a product of sincere reflection and self-assessment that gives me a new perspective for the coming year.

Cheers!  *raises glass * To 2013!

 

Thank you.

It's become increasingly popular and trendy to change one's facebook status during the month of November to include one thing that you're thankful for each day until Thanksgiving.  It's a cute idea, but I still like making my thanks list here.  Forgive me that it's late, but really, I don't think it's ever too late to be thankful.

I'm thankful for/that:

1.  Elections are over
2. President Obama is still the President
3. Baylor football...and really Baylor anything and everything
4. Flat iron with a curve for waves
5. Dad's health insurance
6. Sweet Brown's youtube video- "Ain't Nobody Got Time For That"
7. 5K runs
8. Skype
9. Smart phones
10. my sister
11. airplanes
12. glitter nail polish
13. Spotify
14. Amazon's 100 albums for $5 each every month
15. Spa days with mom
16. tenderness
17. spontaneous friends
18. colorful pens
19. Georgia and Harold at church
20. fluffy pillows
21. Bud Light Lime-a-Ritas (YUMMY)
22. concerts
23. Texas "fall" weather
24. open windows
25. sense of humor
26. dessert recipes
27. dresses with cardigans
28. hair pins
29. not living in a truly dysfunctional nation... like Syria...
30. yoga

 

One-Liner Updates

Claire's wedding:
- Ana drinks a gallon plus of water a day... no joke.
- Congratulations, Mrs. Pablo!

Georgia:
- AMY!!! Hey, bestie!!!
- 600 stairs to the top of the Amicolola Falls... not even sore :-)
- I can totes see myself working at CNN in Hot-lanta.

Miami:
- Robin, you're engaged!  Finally getting married!  See you soon?
- Surprise flight to Miami... double win.
- I love manicures and pedicures.  Elizabeth, may we pamper you? Why, yes.  Yes, of course.

Jury Summons:
- No one here smiles very much here at Frank Crowley Court House.
- For some reason, I have the feeling I'm going be to picked.
- Oh, crap.  Juror number 7.
- Another day away from school.  I hope my kids are taking advantage of the sub.
- Aggrevated Sexual Assult.  Guilty. Without any doubts.  60 years in jail... I voted for more.
- Watching Law and Order is far more entertaining to watch than actually participating.

I'll keep my future guest lists short... :-/

Original Post Has Been Removed.


I will remember to not waste invitations on indifference or inconsideration.

What A Week...

This past week could have been stretched over a month, but was instead crammed into 7 short days.  I felt like I did so much in so little time.

Tuesday was perhaps the longest day.  I had to take off work Monday and had to leave my kiddos in the hands of a substitute all day.  Taking off work from school, more often than not, feels like a nightmare.  Sure I enjoy the day not being in the classroom, but while away, all I do is panic and a reel of worst-case senarios play through my mind.  I can trust almost every single one of my students, but there is that handful that I hope a sub will be ready for.  I always worry: "Did I leave them enough work to do?  Will the sub know how to answer their questions?  Will there be an emergency?..."

So Tuesday, I get to work to find out that I had the hardest and toughest sub for Monday.  This sub strikes fear and utter terror into every child... it kinda makes me proud.  The last thing I want is a sub that my students think they can push over.  The note ended up being super positive with the exception of a few trouble-makers.  Now, I have to bring the rage and the lecture.  It's the same kids that act out for me, so now, the hammer has to come down.  They are all in one class period, so they got a heavy sentence.  From the first bell to the last bell, I think 10 words were spoken in that class that were not my own.  They know when they can and cannot act out.  One would hope that this will be a lesson learned, but assuredly, they'll forget and digress to old habits.

Tuesday evening was mostly spent in my classroom until 6 PM that evening.  I called all the parents, wrote up referrals and even meet two of my students' arents face-to-face.  It wore me down... but then I got a suprise!  Claire called to tell me that Dana and her husband Chris were in town and wanted to have dinner in Dallas!  OF COURSE!!  Despite my exhaustion, there was no way that I would miss out on seeing good friends.  The night was complete with sweet stories, sushi, and frozen yogurt.  That was divine.



Wednesday night was spent at chimes practice followed by party planning with Nikki.  Not to brag or anything, but Nikki and I are pretty darn good at this whole party planning thing. ;-)  By Thursday, I was too tired to go to pint night... hello early bedtime.

Did I mention that my Jr. High students have one dance every year... and Friday night was THE night!  I volunteered to monitor the first hour of the dance.  I mean, Friday evening was about to be a long evening, but at least I'd be entertained I thought... and entertained I was.  Most of the boys put little to no effort in their attire for the dance at all.  Some wore the exact same hoodie and jeans they had on earlier at school.  The cowboy look was popular look as well, but even then, they were the more casual cowboy: jeans, plaid, boots, and hat.  A good majority took this opportunity to sport their favorite fitted cap.  Seriously, they looked like they were headed to Town East Mall at best. But the girls!!... I'm not kidding when I say that some of their dresses were as fancy as prom dresses from high school.  The girls' attire ranged from jeans, short shorts, and shirts to prom dresses.  So much make-up, so many fake tans, and so much glitter.  All of that to say, I greatly appreciate my mother and her guidance through my jr. high years about clothing choices.

Oh, and then the "dancing."  The boys played with the balloons and glowsticks mostly, while the girls followed each other all over the place and danced with each other.  I think the dancing I witnessed was pretty tame only because it was the first hour.  I'm sure it got crazier as the night progressed.  I'm just glad I was there for the awkward: boys do their thing here and the girls will do their thing over here.  I pretty sure that is what a jr. high dance is supposed to be like.  They need to enjoy this awkward time of separation and not grow up too fast.  It breaks my heart when I hear gossip about certain kids doing not-so-kid-like things.

I don't know how big the chimes music circuit is, but First United Methodist Church's Camponologists are rocking the local chimes circle.  Not to brag, but we just had our second big performance outside of the church at Windsor Nursing Home.  Sold out concert.  The crowd would have been on their feet... if they were able... just saying.  Ding Dong.

Saturday night: Billy Bobs with Dana and friends and Nikki.  It was fun, more pricey than expected, but I'm glad I got to see her that last time before leaving America for at least another year.  I've got some great video footage from the night.  There was some bull riding and some dancing.  It was a honky tonk night. 

Without Facebook...

During the season of Lent, I have given up Facebook.  So far, so good.  I don't miss it that much.  Although today while  I was out to lunch with some friends, everyone started mentioned some riotously hilarious pictures that had been posted on Facebook.  That was a bummer.  Clearly, they'll still be up post-Easter, but that's the only thing I guess I'll miss.  The instant photos into the lives of my friends.  I sacrifice pictures for the sake of not wasting my time reading through boring status updates and Farmville stats.  It'll be ok. :-)

In the meantime, this past week has been fun.  I finally went to this little coffee shop, White Rhino Coffee, in Cedarhill.  I have wanted to try it for a long time now and it's as adorable as I imagined it to be.  I also saw a movie with some friends, tried out a new restaurant, Tillman's, in Oak Cliff, and sang some messy Korean keraoke.

To top it all off, I got to spend this afternoon with one and only, Cole.  Here all the way from France to grace us with his presence for an afternoon treat.  It was great.  Our usual gang reunited for a few hours.  Complete bliss.

I suppose if I were to put all of these things into Facebook statuses it would have gone something like this:

-I like Paul Rudd, but they wasted the title "Wanderlust" on a movie that could have just been titled "The Commune."
- I lay caramel delights.
- Fried mashed potato bites may be the best sides imaginable.
- I think the SoJu from the bar made me sing better... or just louder.
- Salt and Pepper team! A day with Cole!

My next move is to invest in a harmonica lesson book.  The internets are wonderful, but I've always been better at learning by book.  Sweet tunes are yet to come. 

Revival

During this season of Lent, I will be giving up Facebook, but setting a goal to update my blog at least once a week.  Perhaps the time I sit in front of my computer Facebooking can be used blogging or writing emails or writing letters, or having more face-to-face conversations.  Facebook isn't a serious addiction or anything, but I do feel like I spend more time looking at what my dear friends are posting on Facebook and not actually calling or catching up in a more intimate fashion.  I want to be more involved in the lives of my friends and not just relying on a new status or picture.  Facebook chat is fine, but I really want to revive the art of conversation.  So, friends and family, you should expect more emails, text messages, actual letters in the post, phone calls, skype dates, coffee/bar/dinner gatherings, and any other way we can communicate without Facebook.  My cell number hasn't changed since high school.  My address is the same.  I even still have an active Baylor email account. This shouldn't be hard... ;-)

Also, blogging is so soothing.  I don't know why I don't/haven't blogged more often.  Perhaps a few paragraphs every now and then will be more informative than a couple of sentences in a status update.  :-)