Vacation @ Work

When needing a vacation from "work" @ work, consider this:

• Signing up for the computer lab,
• Visiting the library,
• If you have an outdoor classroom available at your school, use it!
• And if everything fails, switch your classroom for a day with another teacher... Especially if you have access to a classroom portible.

Life is lovely, as it should be, when you get to escape your every day routine outside of your classroom. How do I know? I'm at the computer lab all day today finding statistics on countries in Latin America. Yes, a wonderful demographics project that helps with benchmark concepts, use of technology in the classroom, and motivates students to learn in a different way than regular class... In other words, everybody is a winner with this plan! It's my first time @ the lab this year and this is what I have accomplished so far today with 1.5 hours still to go until the end of the day:

• Checked email
• Signed up for a mandatory ActivBoard training
• Signed up for a substitute for that day...
• Entered grades...
• Checked today's assignments...
• It's like I suddenly disappeared from the school, completely invisible... great feeling...
  
• In every class period, taught a mini-lesson
  
• The kids are "into it" :) and quiet!
• Kept myself hydrated by drinking lots of water
• Jammed to "Wait for Me" by Rebecca St. James - background music only, no vocals, as I've worked...
• and wrote this post in my blog.

After a rough start to my Monday... Auditorium duty and unexpected parent conferences, this was the perfect "planned" lesson/day.

In conclusion, the lesson today is:
Sign up for the computer lab OFTEN !!! :)

And enjoy your stress-free, drama-free, noise-free, and interruption-free, very productive & successful day! Yes, I feel like life is beautiful right now... :) The grass is always greener at the end of the rainbow, and yes, that pot of gold is waiting for you @ the other side of the bridge... And so on... You get my point. Cloud 9 below... :)

Thank God for day brighteners!

Say it with flowers...

Good for any occasion.

That's a Curveball...

Picture from here.

Wow, I never thought I would ever say this... But I think I got thrown off my little boat! I was sailing across the ocean, everything seemed to be fine, and suddenly - there I went. Down. Fast.

It happened so fast that I didn't really process it until 24 hrs. later.

So what happened, right? You might be saying, "this girl needs to get to the point!" You're right. And that's precisely the thing: It was one of those things where there was a chain of events that got started by this one thing... and everything else followed... But it all made sense. It was as if there was a massive, condensed, and intense lesson going on before me. And yes, I think I learned the reason, got the message, understood the lesson, whatever you want to call it. In addition, I also see where my mistake lied.

What did I learn?

It's in the times when everything is running smoothly, you're getting everything accomplished, God is blessing you in every single possible way, and you feel good - that you truly need to worry and be alert. In other words, WATCH IT.
That's the problem.
God wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams, but it is up to us if we can handle it and live up to that level of "administration" of gifts. Does that make sense?
In difficult times, when there is adversity, we are drawn closer to God. But when everything is going great, yes, it's true, we neglect our relationship with the Giver of everything good because things are sooo nice. It just happened to me and I was not a very good fighter. Literally, BIG things going great in my life. Although I saw it happening, it was as if I couldn't do something about it... or just didn't react because I was lazy... I felt like I was slowly slipping away... I could see it and feel it. Because of my disconnection with God, one little thing caused me to slip, brought me down... and other things came tumbling down as my little rock at the top of the pyramid came falling down, all the way down, and bringing other things down along with it... Yes, it's called, "Still learning how to put God first above everything else" at age 27, knowing much, much better. Disappointed? Yes, in me. I even feel guilty for so many reasons. I know I can do better. So why don't I??? Aaaah! Self-analysis.

Yes, priorities matter.
I see it in a different way after today. In a greater, deeper way and I thank God for that.
I'm reminded of the life of David in the Bible... How he was this amazing guy that had a special relationship with The Lord, but messed up along the way. He was STILL a man from God, but the consequences of not being "connected" to God as he should have, were devastating.

What a lesson for me. I pray that never again do I mess up like that. I'm so thankful to God for being faithful, sovereign, and forgiving - no matter what, and for loving me with eternal love and grace like He does... Dios es bueno en todo tiempo. Thank you God for your forgiveness and comfort in times when I fall and you pick me up. Thank you. Thank you. Gracias con todo mi corazon.

Tostadas anyone?? anyone??

What can I say? I love good Mexican food when I see it, and this recipe for tostadas looks like a winner to me and here's why: Two reasons.

• Although I have my own family version... :) Very few times do I see the "Pre-frying" and baking in oven suggestion. Definitely a must and it's even better when using freshly made, corn tortillas as you fry away. For someone that's very critical of any so-called tostadas, I must say that the recipe does an excellent job at including the true, real ingredients of what goes on in a Mexican Tostada. Plus, they are super easy to make. Think layers!
  
• Second, love the presentation. Yes, even if the recipe is not the greatest or if the food is not up to everyone's taste bud "standards"... you know you can always appeal to their other senses... such as sight! Serve your Mexican dishes on traditional Mexican plates found at local Hispanic stores sometimes... Or if feeling up to a challenge, don't be afraid to explore the flea market. It should be a very interesting experience but you'll find what you need and more! at a discounted price.
  

I can see how this blue plate would be the perfect contrast if I had a rectangular table with a white linen tablecloth like this one below... Aw, the possibilities... classy, elegant, with warmth yet clean-cut. Just my kind... (of style, of course... :)

Picture found here.
Product from Williams-Sonoma.
I love this place!

PS: I can't wait to make tostadas again!!! My friends and family always love them, and my family is very critical about my food, so I'm sure yours will be loved as well! :)

World Studies: Cuba

Cuba in a nutshell...

When people think of Cuba they most likely think dictatorship, Fidel Castro, Guantanamo Bay, Cuban cigars, Miami, and yes, Desi Arnaz (Lucy's husband, Ricky, in I Love Lucy). But there's actually more to Cuba... Way more.

Although the land is only 90 miles away from Florida, it's a completely different world. It's kind of like going back in time... to a place that stopped 60 years ago. In the following list, I intend to bring more awareness of this unique island nation.

1. This is the land of the guajiro, a Cuban from the countryside but a popular expression in conversations with others...
2. Cafecito (expresso coffee) is always good at anytime...
3. A guayabera for men is a must in every closet (a popular man's shirt)
4. The people that make it to the U.S. don't forget about their families back home... and try their best to bring everyone to freedom.
5. Awesome arroz con frijoles negros (rice with black beans) and yuca
6. La Guantanamera (remains a classic, Cuban folk song)
7. The Cuban people that become Christians are like the Great Wall of China - Solid, firm, and never down... And lasting for thousands of years. After living to "resolver" with a painful history and present, I can see why all the Cuban ministers I've met have a strong faith in a very powerful God.
8. Roots of one of my favorite sayings, "Viva Cuba Libre."
9. There's no place like El Malecon de la Habana or Cuba's Seawall in Havana.
10. And yes, check out this video (hilarious! at first)... Watch the last scene... I think it says it all: Culture, passion, love, greatness, romance in more than one way, pride, family, unity, talent, happiness in the midst of adversity, and true beauty.

Thank you DJHazElCubanoo for uploading this classic and memorable video back on YouTube... :)

Muchas gracias a DJHazElCubanoo por volver a poner este video clasico y memorable en YouTube para el deleite de todos nosotros que crecimos en una familia como la de Los Pena. :)