Making a Difference

It's hard to believe another school year is already at an end.  This concludes my 7th year teaching at Bethel Baptist Christian school and as with most ends, begs for some reflection.  I had the pleasure of teaching the seniors in Government and Economics this year.  Usually, my classes only cover 7th - 9th graders but I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with these upperclassmen.  What a great group of kids!  As I looked around the room at each of them and we played Catch Phrase during our last session together, I couldn't help but wonder what, if any, impact I had on each of their lives.  As a teacher, kids come through my doors and I know it is my job to teach them what needs to be taught...this year, mostly math.  But as a teacher at a Christian school, my teaching spreads further into their lives and includes standards and how to apply Bible teaching to your life as well as the designated subject matter.  I know I can teach math and I like to think I do a fair job at it, but I am at a loss as to whether or not any of the "other" teaching has worked its way into their hearts.  I have struggled somewhat with this throughout this week, knowing my time to influence these few has come to an end.  What has my influence been?  I don't want to be their hardest teacher, or strictest or funniest, or even their favorite...I just want to make a difference.

This morning, before leaving for school, I asked my husband, "You need me, don't you?  I make a difference in our home, right?"  I know, sounded just as ridiculous coming out of my mouth then as it does typing it now.  I followed it up by voicing the same concern about making a difference and he reminded me of something I think I occasionally loose sight of when I walk in these school doors (yes, I'm at school now).  I am the difference in our home...I will forever influence my own children and so I need to make a conscious decision to turn my attention and my need to be needed toward those I know will embrace it.  My sweet baby girl is graduating from Kindergarten tomorrow and my oldest is entering the youth department on Sunday as he heads into this next phase of his life.  They both need me and I know my little Zach Attack, tender hearted as he is, will always need his mom.  When I think of these three and my amazing husband, my heart overflows.

I do hope and pray that I make a difference in each life that walks through my classroom doors.  I hope I can teach them and reach through to them and leave a lasting impression, but if not...I'll have to be okay with that, too.

Lazy Day

Kevin and the oldest boy are off playing paintball as part of Raymond's birthday week, so the two younger ones and I are spending a lazy day at home in our jammies!  After a cup of coffee, our first order of business is a few board games.  I may or may not try and get a load of laundry underway, but I'm definitely planning to enjoy an afternoon free of any external obligations.

 

 

With summer vacation just around the corner, I've already started thinking and planning for days like this.  I know...keeping a calendar over the summer seems like some kind of oxymoron, but it's not!  Truly!  My kids LOVE having a "plan" and look forward to whatever it is we've got going.  Traditionally, I've tried to consistently do the same type of thing for each day of the week and that is my game plan this summer, too.  I've tweaked some of the categories, but I think it's gonna work.  Besides all the fun stuff, I've also thought about a few basic things, like cooking and cleaning that I'd like to spend time teaching my kids.  But, for today...it's just the 3 of us, some snacks and some board games!

Mother's Day

I always look forward to Mother's Day...we've settled into somewhat of a tradition in our family.  I spend the Saturday prior with my mom and then my brothers get her on Sunday.  This year, Addison and I started our morning out with a birthday cake pop and some coffee at Starbucks.  No body's birthday...my girl just likes pink stuff!

 

 

Next stop was the church, to pick up and transport ladies to the Mother's Day Brunch in Tacoma.  I was the "official" driver, so Mom just met us in the parking lot and rode the shuttle with us to David's Mansion on Broadway.  Addison was extra excited to have Grannie along for the day.

 

We found some seats next to friends, then explored the neat, old house before enjoying a delicious brunch.  The food really was quite good!  Since the brunch was fairly early, we had plenty of time when we got back to try out the new nail salon near our house.

This was Addie's first ever manicure and she really enjoyed it!

I was pretty impressed that she sat so still...she doesn't usually manage quite so well when we do her nails at home.

But the end results were fantastic and we've already decided we'd like to try that salon again.  Maybe for Addison's birthday this summer.  All in all, we had a lovely day; enjoyed some good food, a little pampering and best of all, spent time with my two favorite gals!

 

Basketball

It's been a few weeks, but Raymond participated in our school's "junior league" basketball season.  It's a short, one month season that allows 3rd - 6th grade boys an opportunity to play a little basketball during lunch.  The high school boys coached this year and it was neat to see the interaction across the grade levels.  Raymond's team, the Knighthawks finished their season in 2nd place and we were very proud of his effort and attitude.

 

That exposure apparently lit a spark in my boy because all he thinks about now is basketball.  He wants to play ALL the time...at lunch, after school, after church and every second he has free at home is spent "shooting hoops".  I'm not complaining, far from it!  As a lover of sports, I couldn't be happier that my boy has taken such an interest in a basketball.  It's just a little bitter-sweet for me to watch him grow up and let loose those proverbial apron strings.  In fact, just recently he was asked by some high school boys to stay after school and play ball with them.  One even offered him a ride home, if he could stay.  I can't describe the feeling I had as I loaded the other two up and headed down the hill for home.  Sort of a mixture of pride and sadness, I guess.  I had to call Kevin on my way home so he could reassure me that the boy would be just fine.  I knew he would, it's just...

 

 

So that brings us to today...our boys' basketball teams are getting a jump on the next basketball season and have already starting practices in preparation for next year.  Raymond will be attending his first "official" basketball practice this evening and I must admit, I'm experiencing a bit of anxiety over it!  Will he do well?  What if he gets hurt and I'm not there?  What if he hates it?  What if he LOVES it?!  So many what-ifs, it's hard to imagine but in my mind, I guess I am still seeing that sweet little boy whose picture I have on my desk and I'm not sure how OK I am with leaving him at school, alone...or more accurately, with out me.  But, truth be told, if my baby is gonna be a baller, he's most surely going to get hurt (physically and maybe even emotionally) and I'm just.going.to.have.to. let him.

Happy Birthday Raymond!

I asked my students this morning if their parents told them all about what happened the day they were born...they looked at me like I was a little crazy, so apparently it is just something that my family does :)  Every year on my birthday, (well, not in recent years, but definitely the whole time I was growing up!) my mother  would tell me what her day was like, the day I was born.  Now, I do the same for my kids.  They all love it and usually ask questions, I think so they can hear more about "their story".  Anyway, I am particularly fond of Raymond's story...partly because it was a crazy kind of day, but mostly because we almost lost him.  Hard to believe this handsome guy was ever so sick the doctors told us he might not make it through that first night.

We make a pretty big deal over birthdays in our house...it's not usually a one-day, one-time event but lots of little treats over their "birthday week".  So, today,  Raymond's actually birthday, I brought him one of his favorite fast food meals, the shrimp basket from DQ.  I had offered to take him out for lunch, but he declined...apparently I am not as entertaining as his classmates!  I also sent cupcakes to school for him to share with his classmates and arranged for Grannie and Grandpa to make a surprise visit at our house after school.  We are normally busy on Wednesday, since we go to church, so he wouldn't have imagined we'd have a party on his actual birthday this year.  But I am getting ahead of myself, so more about that in a sec...trying to keep things in a timeline!

 

Another "tradition" is that the birthday boy gets to choose what they have for dinner.  Typical pre-teen that he is, he chose pizza.  So I ordered from his favorite, Papa Johns and we left immediately after school so we'd have time to pick it up and get home before the "surprise" arrived.  In the same parking lot as Papa Johns is a Starbucks and we were in time for their Frappuccino Happy Hour so we stopped in to take advantage and everyone got their own drink (I usually make them share).

Look at those beautiful smiles!
 

Drinks in hand and pizza picked up, we headed home and almost made it to our driveway before the two little ones almost gave up the surprise.  What was I thinking telling them "Grannie is coming over...shhhh, it's a surprise for Raymond" anyway?!  Oh well, he had all but figured it out when we pulled in and there was Grannie's car!  Ray was pretty happy to see them both. 

 

 

 We enjoyed some time the the grandparents while we waited for Kevin to get home from work before starting the festivities.  Grannie helped Zach with his homework while Grandpa got the grand tour of the garden with Addison, then they switched it up and Grannie read to Addison while Zach and Raymond found the kittens to show to Grandpa.

Then a very good friend of Raymond's, Jeremy Kwon gave Ray a call to wish him a happy birthday.  The boys don't see as much of each other as they used to, since they no longer attend the same school.   Such a thoughtful gesture and one that Raymond obviously appreciated.

Just look at that smile!

 

Finally, Kevin was home and we did the whole birthday thing and watched Ray open his presents.

 

He had asked for a new watch (which he got) and we also bought him some new t-shirts, all with a basketball theme.  He was in heaven!  I am always happy when my children are so obviously appreciative of the things we buy and do for them.  He was all smiles the rest of the night and even got to pick our seats at church.  All in all, it was a wonderful day and I hope my sweet boy enjoyed his day as much as the rest of us enjoyed preparing it for him!

 

Grandview Ladies Conference

I just got back from a ladies conference in Oregon and feel like I can change the world!... or at least my home :)   Isn't that how it always is?  I always learn so much and have to pick and choose which things I want to try and implement at home,  because changing everything that I'd like to change is simply not an option.

The theme was "A Clean Heart" so they focused on keeping your house, life and spiritual walk in order.  The actual cleaning tips and thought were very helpful and I really felt inspired to fix some of the ways I do things at home.  Let's hope it works out...anyway, more about my fabulous trip...

It was a beautiful weekend, weather wise and we were upgraded to a suite because of an unfortunate incident that occurred when we checked in...they gave us a keys to someone else's room and we walked right in on a sweet lady half dressed.  Lucky for us (or her?!) she attended our church and we could joke about it afterwards.  It was quite uncomfortable as we back-peddled out of the room, though!  At any rate, we got a family suite on the first flour with a great view of the Clackamas river.

Not a great shot, through the screen door and you can hardly see the river, but trust me, it was very nice!

It's always nice to just get away with some other ladies from church... we have a great time.  This year, the conference landed during Starbucks Frappuccino Happy Hour campaign and we took full advantage of it!  Starbucks was followed by some thrift store shopping and then back to the church for a play and dessert.

 

I had a wonderful time and, as always, learned more than I fear I'll ever be able to put into practice. 

Planting the garden

We've had some really beautiful weather already this spring so I've already gotten the itch to get out in the garden!  I managed to start a lot of veggies in the greenhouse this year and I think they are ready to go into the ground...

 

So I solicited the help of two of my master gardeners

and we got busy planting seeds for corn, carrots and spinach

as well as planing the peas that we had started earlier.

My kids LOVE peas, especially right off the vine,

so they were more than happy to help put them into the ground!

I am so glad that my kids enjoy being outside, and in our garden in particular, ALMOST as much as I do!  I am excited about our crop this year and am learning more and more about what I can and can't grow as well as what things I know we'll use the most of!