Thursday, September 24, 2009

Facing Reality As I "Retire" My Summer


Time to retire my summer 2009 Avatar: I love you, Swimming!!!
I attended today the Grand Re-Opening of the SBISD Natatorium and it just seemed like the perfect conclusion to my passion this summer: Swimming.
Labor Day already passed... It's starting to cool off... The A/C @ school is no longer breaking down, and swim team season started when school did... Sooooo, summer is officially over : (

As hard as it is to accept reality, at least I can say that I've had an amazing summer, filled with excitement and new things. Lots of learning, that's for sure... And that's great.

I have my YMCA instructor to thank, Juan, for teaching me so much without him knowing about it. Because of his example, I learned to swim, dive, try all the possible strokes and kicks, tread water, discovered and used muscles I had no idea existed, for the first time someone believed in me -- always teling me that I could do it! Without knowing me, he did believe in me and it was genuine. I learned to believe in myself, experienced the first real and genuine words of encouragement I've ever received in my life from someone that didn't even know me about accomplishing something new (had never heard that from people in my life), became 100% comfortable in a swimsuit, learned new levels of patience I had no idea existed, made me feel that I needed to become a better teacher :) (rude awakening... I needed that... All due to his quiet example. I felt like a kid wanting to be just like him!), and most of all: Saber que es posible encontrar a un hombre con grandes cualidades como son el ser humilde, inteligente, servidor, trabajador, educado, prudente, respetuoso, y siii! El ser agradecido; fisicamente fuerte y sano (en buena condicion fisica... De atleta!!!), con metas y proposito, y que ame a Dios por sobre TODAS las cosas. Me hizo pensar en lo que pudiera ser... Lo posible... Tanto asi, que senti el deseo de pedirle a Dios por su bendicion en mi vida de proveerme un esposo que sea increible y a la vez normal... un hombre que ES hombre... no perfecto :) con bastante que aprender y con el deseo de querer ser mejor... Que sea bueno con todos... y super lindo conmigo. :) Es posible. Ahora lo se. :) Y espero que pronto sea una realidad muy probable. Nunca habia vivido un ejemplo como el. Jamas. Y me quedo admirada de como Dios usa ciertas cosas/momentos/personas/ocasiones para hablarle a uno, hacerlo ver, refleccionar y despertar... Porque uso a Juan para bendecir mi vida en motivarme y en todo lo que ya mencione... Y estoy por siempre agradecida. :) Thank you God, thank you mom for your unconditional support, and of course, how can I forget?! --> Thank you, Juan.
I'm reminded of Scrip
ture:

"In everything give thanks..."
and
"To everything there is a season..."

With no further ado, thank you God for my wonderful, busy, very stressful, adventurous, fun and exciting summer! I loved it. And I have You to thank for your provision of all the blessings in my life. Summer is over but your seasons aren't. I trust you and I look forward to a new time, new season, new beginning... a new adventure.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Animoto :)

It's been a while since I've been here... I've been soooo busy trying to move to my new place... and balance life with work. What a task!

We're now being tested every 1.5 weeks or 2, sometimes... It seems like there are 5 new things this year in my school, and particularly true in my department:

1. Eduphoria
2. E-portfolios
3. Benchmarks described above...
4. ActivBoards soon to arrive in October...
5. and a new attendance/grading system soon to come as well...
6. In addition to construction on both sides of our school: A SPARK park and roof rennovations...

Yes, all very lovely :) and stress free (my joke of the day)

Do you see why it is impossible to leave my job at 3:55 every day - and taking "work" home is not an option... :(

I only have Monday (tomorrow) to review my kids on 3 days worth of lessons where I didn't get to teach or "touch on" globalization... but I will tomorrow. I knew I needed something real good and to the point because we don't have time... as always. Soooo, last night, the idea came to me: I could use Animoto to teach Globalization!!! :) Problem solved.
Check out my vid and let me know what you think... Have a great week! :)